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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
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A Boat Ride on the Kaveri at Ranganathittu

We first visited the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary in May2014, when Samhith and I spent a week at Mysore. We visited the sanctuary again this year, at the special request of Samhith, for his birthday! It is amazing how the sanctuary, and the river, never cease to surprise us, with the profusion and variety of avian life. This has been my only birding trip this year, so here are some photos from the boat ride on the Kaveri at Ranganathittu…

Grey Heron

Painted Stork


Group of Painted Storks

Open Billed Stork

Oriental White Ibis

Oriental White Ibis, in their nest

Black - Crowned Night Heron

Cattle Egrets in breeding plumage

Egret


Snake Bird or Darter

Spot Billed Pelicans

Spot Billed Pelicans

While birds were certainly the highlight of the boat ride, there was more to see in the river.... such as these crocodiles!

Crocodile





The visit to Ranganathittu was our first halt during our Summer Trip of 2016. Read more about that trip in the coming days....

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Location: Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Srirangapatna, Karnataka 571438, India

Comments

  1. Harish ShettyDecember 20, 2016 at 11:28 AM

    Great shots.. Loved the croc..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarMarch 17, 2017 at 5:40 PM

      Thank you! We love the crocs too.... Its always good to spot one

      Delete
  2. NatalieGDecember 21, 2016 at 8:47 AM

    The Ibis and Storks are so other-worldly with their dramatic heads and beaks! Many of them looked like they posed just for your pics! :) When you mentioned it was your only recent birding trip it made me realize how much I've missed your photos of all the beautiful birds you encounter. Thanks for the great wildlife pics and I'm looking forward to your upcoming posts about your Summer Trip.

    ReplyDelete

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