Skip to main content

Featured Post

Pandharpur Yatra 2023

The first time I visited Pandharpur was back in 2007 . The names Vitthal and Pandharpur, were just names to me. I had heard of them, but that was about it. Seeing the lord standing on the brick, hands on his hips, was memorable, but more memorable was the sight that greeted us as we walked out of the main sanctum of the temple. In the mandap just outside were a group of devotees singing abhangs , and dancing. This was the first time I had heard abhangs , and even almost 15 years later, I can remember the welling of feeling within me, listening to the songs, and how fascinated I was by the sight of the devotees dancing, lost in their love of the Lord. Over the years, as I have read more about Vitthal, and participated in Ashadi Ekadashi programmes at Puttaparthi, that first experience has stayed clear in my mind and heart. Every time I tell my Balvikas students of the saints who sang of Vitthala, it is that experience that I re-live. I visited Pandharpur again, in 2010, but that experie
2 comments

Sky Watch Friday - Skies over Mumbai


The Mumbai Skyline, over-set by monsoon clouds......



Walking along Marine Drive in the pouring rain brings back memories of my college days when I walked the path alone. So many years later, I walked the same path, this time with my husband and son! A memorable experience indeed!!!
For more beautiful skies from around the world, go to the Skywatch Page


Labels:

Comments

  1. BhushavaliAugust 5, 2011 at 12:17 PM

    Is Mumbai prepared for the rainy season????
    Celebrate Independance day in Fashionable Khadi

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anu ShankarAugust 5, 2011 at 2:57 PM

    Mumbai is never prepared for the rains! not even a couple of months after the rains begin! but rains are nevertheless one of the things I really love about Mumbai!

    ReplyDelete
  3. chitraAugust 5, 2011 at 3:15 PM

    Was it only cloudy or was it raining. ? Shot from a good angle.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Mridula DAugust 5, 2011 at 3:40 PM

    Is it still raining at Mumbai? Here it is so humid but no proper rains.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anu ShankarAugust 5, 2011 at 4:00 PM

    When I took the pic, Chitra, it was just cloudy... the time I walked, it was raining too hard, so I left my camera behind! this pic was taken from a friends house which has one of the best views in bbay!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anu ShankarAugust 5, 2011 at 4:01 PM

    Yes, Mridula, it is still raining, and I hope it continues for the next month or two!! if it rains through september, then usually the lakes are full enough to supply us with water through the year, if the authorities dont mess up, of course!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Indrani GhoseAugust 5, 2011 at 8:17 PM

    Grey over here too.

    ReplyDelete
  8. aartiAugust 6, 2011 at 1:02 AM

    Did it rain??? :) its raining here now[1am]
    btw, i totally love the new look here :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. AlAugust 6, 2011 at 6:56 AM

    That's a nice shot and so different from anything here. Where I live we get a "monsoon" too, as in seasonal moisture. But here the monsoon means that the clear morning skies will usually turn to a thunderstorm in the late afternoon.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anu ShankarAugust 6, 2011 at 10:07 AM

    i seem to prefer it when its grey!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anu ShankarAugust 6, 2011 at 10:08 AM

    Oh yes, its been raining of and on since the last few days.... before that it was pouring! glad to hear of the rain there! and thanks! I was wondering if anyone had noticed!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anu ShankarAugust 6, 2011 at 10:10 AM

    Thanks! for us, monsoon usually means 4 months of rain, rain and nothing but rain. we wake up to cloudy skies, and sleep with cloudy skies... and the rain varies from drizzling to pouring!! of course, things are changing, the climate change is showing up now and then, but it still rains quite a bit, so we get to enjoy it for now!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Tatjana ParkachevaAugust 11, 2011 at 2:59 PM

    Nice shot.

    Regards!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anu ShankarAugust 13, 2011 at 12:11 PM

    Thanks so much, Tatjana! Welcome here!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks so much for stopping by. Please leave a comment for me so that I will know you have been here....

Popular posts from this blog

Gokarna Part II – The Five Lingams

We continued our Gokarna trip by visiting four other Shiva temples in the vicinity, all connected to the same story of Gokarna. The story of Gokarna mentions the Mahabaleshwara Lingam as the one brought from Kailas by Ravana, and kept at this place on the ground by Ganesha. (See my earlier post- Gokarna – Pilgrimage and Pleasure). However, the story does not end here. It is believed that, in his anger, Ravana flung aside the materials which covered the lingam- the casket, its lid, the string around the lingam, and the cloth covering it. All these items became lingams as soon as they touched the ground. These four lingams, along with the main Mahabaleshwara lingam are collectively called the ‘ Panchalingams’ . These are: Mahabaleshwara – the main lingam Sajjeshwar – the casket carrying the lingam. This temple is about 35 Kms from Karwar, and is a 2 hour drive from Gokarna. Dhareshwar – the string covering the lingam. This temple is on NH17, about 45 Kms south of Gokarna. Gunavanteshw
7 comments
Read more

The Havelis of Bikaner - A Photo Post

The lanes are narrow , twisting and turning amidst buildings old and new. Crumbling old structures with intricate workmanship stand side by side with art deco buildings, and more modern constructions, which follow no particular style. Autos, bicycles, motorcycles and vans rush past, blowing their horns as loudly as possible, while cows saunter past peacefully, completely unaffected by the noise. In the midst of all this chaos, children play by the side, and women go about their chores, as we explore these by-lanes of Bikaner, and its beautiful Havelis. Facade of one of the Rampuria Havelis
8 comments
Read more

The Elephanta Caves

The Elephanta Caves , located on Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri, about 11 Km off the coast of the Gateway of India, Mumbai, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A visit to these caves, excavated probably in the 6 th century CE, is awe-inspiring, and also thought-provoking. Over the years, I have visited the caves a number of times, and also attended a number of talks by experts in the fields of art, history and archaeology on the caves. Together, they help me understand these caves, their art, and the people they were created for, just a little bit better. Every new visit, every new talk, every new article I read about the caves, fleshes out the image of what the island and the caves would have been like, at their peak. I last wrote about the caves on this blog, in 2011, almost exactly 11 years ago. Since then, my understanding of the caves has, I would like to think, marginally improved. Hence this attempt to write a new and updated post, trying to bring to life, the caves of Elephan
11 comments
Read more