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Kashi 3.0

Memory is unpredictable . One never really knows what we will remember and what we will forget. Which is why nostalgia arrives in unpredictable waves, highlighting something and skimming over others. Recently, I have found myself thinking of how memory works, as I was assailed by nostalgia over a trip to Varanasi, a city I prefer to think of, as Kashi. The nostalgia hit right as we landed at Varanasi airport. The last time I was here, it was 1988, I was 13 years old, the airport was brand new… regular flights hadn’t started yet (I think) … flights landed about once a week, and for the rest of the time, everything was open to those of us who lived in the airport quarters nearby. There were fields everywhere, vast expanses of green… I have vague memories of corn and sugarcane… and being overwhelmed by the vastness of the fields (this was the first time I was in such close proximity to them), and the warm hospitality of complete strangers who lived and worked amidst these fields. I h...
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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!

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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

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