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Odisha Part 4: Chilika – Experiencing the lake, in and out of season

My first visit to the Chilika Lake in Jan 2017 was for content for a resort. It was peak season, and I would have loved to stay near the lake, but the brief was to stay at Puri and cover areas that could be visited from Puri. And so, I did the usual touristy thing, taking a boat for half the day. Which is why, on my next visit to Odisha, if there was one thing I was clear about, it was that I wanted to stay near the lake, at least for a day, if not more. However, unlike my first visit, the second was in end of May, and the season was long ended. There would be no birds, I was warned by anyone and everyone I spoke to, including the people at the stays I was considering. But those who know me, know how stubborn I can be, and so I persisted. I eventually decided to stay at two of the Odisha eco-tourism resorts, at Mangalajodi and Rajhans, keen on experiencing the lake, even minus the birds. I had expected it to be hot, but as it turned out, the rains turned out to be even bigger spoilspo...
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Faces in the Crowd : Two strangers at Amritsar


For Faces in the crowd today, I have two strangers.... two people I clicked at the Golden temple, Amritsar....



The first is obviously a visitor, a pilgrim. He looks so happy, at peace... His object is fulfilled. He has had darshan of the holy book., he has got the divine blessing - the prasad....


The second is more alert. He is obviously an employee of the Temple. He is at work, doing his duty, spear in hand. It doesn't matter that in these days of modern weaponry, his spear will be of no use in a gun battle. All that matters is that he is carrying the sacred tradition of protecting the sacred space, in the manner it has been done for years. 

There is no fear of what may come. This is the one of the few places where no security check is conducted on visitors. We are free to carry anything inside. Even a camera. As I enter the sanctum, an employee notices my camera, and says, "beta, mandir ke andar photo mat nikalna" (child, please don't take a photo inside the sanctum). He doesn't even wait for my assent before turning away to the next pilgrim. Such is the nature of faith and belief. 

These two photos, of two different people represents that same faith and belief, which shows in the happiness of one and the calmness of the other. 

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Location: Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar, Punjab 143006

Comments

  1. AartiJanuary 31, 2013 at 11:04 AM

    Love how they ooze with confidence and pride when they walk... Amritsar- hopefully this year, last year planned in nov and had to cancel :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarFebruary 1, 2013 at 2:31 PM

      Yes, Aarti! Its so nice to simply sit there and watch all the people there... hope you can go this year.. its a beautiful place

      Delete
  2. MridulaJanuary 31, 2013 at 1:18 PM

    Lovely, will wait to see more in this series!

    ReplyDelete
  3. desi TravelerJanuary 31, 2013 at 3:01 PM

    Hi Anu... you have clicked interpreted the two pictures beautifully.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Manu PonnappaJanuary 31, 2013 at 5:00 PM

    Interpretation is really good!!!! Nice observation...

    MANUPONNAPPA.BLOGSPOT.IN

    ReplyDelete
  5. NishaFebruary 3, 2013 at 3:41 PM

    I loved your interpretations about these two pictures which we normally don't even bother to look at. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarFebruary 4, 2013 at 8:44 AM

      Thanks, Nisha! I actually spent a lot of time just sitting there and looking at people come and go.. i had been there before as a kid, and was trying to remember what it had been like then... and since photography was allowed, went on clicking too :D

      Delete
  6. AkankshaMay 29, 2017 at 5:37 PM

    Waoo we are so busy that we don't even notice such things in regular life.. Real good interpretation.

    ReplyDelete

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