Skip to main content

Featured Post

The Vaishnodevi Experience 2023

My first trip to Vaishnodevi was unimpressive. Climbing was hard, and it only served to highlight how badly out of shape I was, while my in-laws managed to cope so much better. Further, I hadn’t quite realized that the cave experience wouldn’t be the same as I had imagined, since the original cave was only opened at certain times a year, and that we only entered a newly created tunnel, one far easier to access, and hence more manageable with the crowds that thronged the mountain shrine. The resulting experience at the shrine, for barely a fraction of a second, hardly compared to what I had expected / imagined / heard about. So, for me, Vaishnodevi was like any other temple, nothing to write home about, something that was reflected (though not explicitly mentioned) in the blog post I wrote then.
3 comments

Faces in the Crowd - Business in the rain


The monsoon at Mahabaleshwar is a sight to see. The pouring rain, the dense fog, lush green valleys and mountains everywhere your eyes can see.... and vendors selling hot tea and corn at every turning. 

Some have a temporary shack, like the vendor selling corn-on-the-cob, but this man just has his bicycle, and his Aluminium steamer. He goes around, wearing a raincoat, selling plucked and boiled corn till he runs out of stock, which seemed to be quite huge considering the number of customers he had!

Related Posts:


Labels:
Location: Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra, India

Comments

  1. ArtiJanuary 20, 2013 at 5:44 PM

    Ah! Garma Garm Bhuttas in the rain :) A treat, that is :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarJanuary 21, 2013 at 11:28 AM

      I would love bhuttas in this cold too, Arti!!! but its a pity cant seem to see them anywhere in mumbai these days!

      Delete
  2. krishnaJanuary 20, 2013 at 9:38 PM

    this is my India!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Timeless Memories - My Bygone !January 20, 2013 at 11:26 PM

    Just Perfect.. there is nothing like having a hot bhutta ceremoniasly pasted with lemon & mint on a rainy day..!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarJanuary 21, 2013 at 11:47 AM

      oh, absolutely, Devil Incarnate! and the thought of it makes me salivate even now!

      Delete
  4. Bhavesh ChhatbarJanuary 21, 2013 at 12:00 PM

    Poor people

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarJanuary 21, 2013 at 2:53 PM

      True, Bhavesh... we do feel sorry for people like him who brave the weather to make our lives easier... and there is no doubt that it is people like him who make our memories that much more memorable!

      Delete
  5. R Niranjan DasJanuary 23, 2013 at 1:01 PM

    Tough life!

    www.rajniranjandas.blogspot.in

    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
8 comments
Read more

The Power of 8 - The Ashta Dikpalas and Ashta Vasus at Khajuraho

The four cardinal directions form the axis on which a temple is built, and are thus the basis of temple architecture. Leading from them are the eight directions, which are believed to be guarded by the eight guardians, or Ashta Dikpalas . In the temples of Khajuraho, great care has been taken by the sculptors to carve the Ashta Dikpalas on the walls, both inside and outside. They not only guard the temple, but also look over us as we circumambulate the shrine, protecting us by their presence. They are augmented by the Ashta Vasus , celestial beings which represent natural phenomena. Together, they enhance the idea of the temple as cosmos, enfolding within it, all the aspects of nature, both, on earth, as well in space.
4 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
9 comments
Read more