tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13282204074534854212024-03-13T03:17:05.101-07:00Trupal Pandya PhotographyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00863495068033802738noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328220407453485421.post-44902433736397637472014-02-13T09:22:00.000-08:002014-02-13T09:22:02.245-08:00Omo Valley, Ethiopia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We worry about money, power, status, the way the world perceives us. While we spend all of our energy succumbing to these, there’s people like you and me that are living parallel lives, except in a place where there’s miles of nothingness. The Omo Valley in Ethiopia, home to tribes like Mursi, Hamer, Benna has been one of the most surreal places I have had the fortune of experiencing.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_BwU6ODtNKo/UvzyEtsArQI/AAAAAAAABJ0/sA6DkNAJJaY/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_BwU6ODtNKo/UvzyEtsArQI/AAAAAAAABJ0/sA6DkNAJJaY/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+04.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pJCD0U15r6s/UvzyFV0GtpI/AAAAAAAABKA/OA6Zf2mmQp4/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pJCD0U15r6s/UvzyFV0GtpI/AAAAAAAABKA/OA6Zf2mmQp4/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+27.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aoS31FZnMrM/UvzyEjvAhmI/AAAAAAAABJ8/NwjtTibX2Gs/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aoS31FZnMrM/UvzyEjvAhmI/AAAAAAAABJ8/NwjtTibX2Gs/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+18.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v0g0Pth4afM/UvzyEjHXjTI/AAAAAAAABJs/KR5EyYItg0c/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v0g0Pth4afM/UvzyEjHXjTI/AAAAAAAABJs/KR5EyYItg0c/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+06.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Driving through dirt roads for hours, going deeper into the vastness of the wilderness in Ethiopia, the feelings moving through my body cannot be explained. Never before in my life have I seen a group of people so detached from what you and I call civilization. Yet, while I looked at them through the lens, the intensity of their gazes and the force of existence that they were emitting was almost unnatural.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fn0XS9Z_NL0/UvzyrMDsk2I/AAAAAAAABKE/k94-eJHzzI0/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fn0XS9Z_NL0/UvzyrMDsk2I/AAAAAAAABKE/k94-eJHzzI0/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+12.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EfWtBT1JYUw/UvzyrIDROUI/AAAAAAAABKM/GI9vg85IHmg/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EfWtBT1JYUw/UvzyrIDROUI/AAAAAAAABKM/GI9vg85IHmg/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+22.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jY3Af8NDNLQ/UvzyrIBapvI/AAAAAAAABKI/hu4K-_sU0mA/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jY3Af8NDNLQ/UvzyrIBapvI/AAAAAAAABKI/hu4K-_sU0mA/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+23.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We didn’t speak the same language, but when they welcomed me into their homes, uttering words would only disturb the calming sound of barren lands.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw9GwO_OdWAzugGVfi99x0cap5U9VC6AW0IBx9VilogxMXaJ8OWtRBJLu5v9exrxKIubKB5y9Y2D_xw16up-g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Photographing the Mursi tribe was the most challenging, temperamentally they seemed heated, with the advent of tourism they have learnt they can make money in exchange of letting people photograph them. With their constant badgering, it was hard to focus on a subject as long as I would have liked to, additionally, every time the flash went off, they believed the stark light was sucking up their blood. It was evident the discomfort it was causing them; the more flashed that went off, the angrier they got. The fact that they were carrying AK-47s further caused me to be intimidated, but our driver and tour guide managed to put me at ease when he pulled out a semi-automatic weapon himself and escorted us away.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6GRirP18kSI/UvzzOLg9e9I/AAAAAAAABK0/YvJFv1JKxzU/s1600/_DSC5966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6GRirP18kSI/UvzzOLg9e9I/AAAAAAAABK0/YvJFv1JKxzU/s1600/_DSC5966.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EcnLtVDgsrU/UvzzNv5TrxI/AAAAAAAABKk/sFrL2zyN2hk/s1600/_DSC5954+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EcnLtVDgsrU/UvzzNv5TrxI/AAAAAAAABKk/sFrL2zyN2hk/s1600/_DSC5954+copy.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iUm9yqgz_IU/UvzzNKuoGKI/AAAAAAAABKc/xPiieVuksVM/s1600/_DSC5944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iUm9yqgz_IU/UvzzNKuoGKI/AAAAAAAABKc/xPiieVuksVM/s1600/_DSC5944.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WkMbAhqryBE/UvzzNVDaucI/AAAAAAAABKg/HZYf4sC_5xM/s1600/_DSC5941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WkMbAhqryBE/UvzzNVDaucI/AAAAAAAABKg/HZYf4sC_5xM/s1600/_DSC5941.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mM1LIpoQAlA/UvzzghPxJpI/AAAAAAAABK8/6ZwPQFGMxYU/s1600/_DSC5999+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mM1LIpoQAlA/UvzzghPxJpI/AAAAAAAABK8/6ZwPQFGMxYU/s1600/_DSC5999+copy.jpg" height="320" width="234" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YUPttNSPxiA/Uvzzg3LfaHI/AAAAAAAABLA/hKPeWPA5EGE/s1600/_DSC6797+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YUPttNSPxiA/Uvzzg3LfaHI/AAAAAAAABLA/hKPeWPA5EGE/s1600/_DSC6797+copy.jpg" height="320" width="234" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
While the entire trip was magical, there are some stories that stand out more than the others. The night I saw a young boy perform his rite of passage is one of them. Seeing him jump over the backs of these bulls was an extraordinary display of talent. Before he took the leap, the nervousness hung thick in the air; but it didn’t last long as the women of the tribe inebriated by now, broke into loud, manic chants and cheers to encourage and welcome the boy into manhood.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gTFQg2yAfaQ/Uvz0NdsSBVI/AAAAAAAABLU/h0dXiEEvtHQ/s1600/_DSC6069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gTFQg2yAfaQ/Uvz0NdsSBVI/AAAAAAAABLU/h0dXiEEvtHQ/s1600/_DSC6069.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XqVV4v6qTD8/Uvz0NYYVnDI/AAAAAAAABLQ/S3Dya43w330/s1600/_DSC6547+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XqVV4v6qTD8/Uvz0NYYVnDI/AAAAAAAABLQ/S3Dya43w330/s1600/_DSC6547+copy.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Our tour guide incidentally belonged to the Benna tribe, and I can safely say, being amongst them was the most peaceful I have felt in a very long time. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zNqFg619r-Q/Uvz1OeTZx3I/AAAAAAAABLs/IWRvZ4M02Dw/s1600/_DSC6053+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zNqFg619r-Q/Uvz1OeTZx3I/AAAAAAAABLs/IWRvZ4M02Dw/s1600/_DSC6053+copy.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ML3oq8MC7bs/Uvz1Of-jK4I/AAAAAAAABLo/2ycrq61yC2g/s1600/_DSC6057+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ML3oq8MC7bs/Uvz1Of-jK4I/AAAAAAAABLo/2ycrq61yC2g/s1600/_DSC6057+copy.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H2OzToP3pR4/Uvz1OZzMEvI/AAAAAAAABLk/zd9Jfb2FvyI/s1600/_DSC6115+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H2OzToP3pR4/Uvz1OZzMEvI/AAAAAAAABLk/zd9Jfb2FvyI/s1600/_DSC6115+copy.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jcLQ8sa1ulQ/Uvz1Ow6BQiI/AAAAAAAABL0/uOuEAfkce0k/s1600/_DSC6234+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jcLQ8sa1ulQ/Uvz1Ow6BQiI/AAAAAAAABL0/uOuEAfkce0k/s1600/_DSC6234+copy.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OmCOH2DbX0s/Uvz1PJgcheI/AAAAAAAABME/jvJpM6SYBHg/s1600/_DSC6241+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OmCOH2DbX0s/Uvz1PJgcheI/AAAAAAAABME/jvJpM6SYBHg/s1600/_DSC6241+copy.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kjM0XmPrJL4/Uvz1PNBW3uI/AAAAAAAABMA/QhvP0VbUaXM/s1600/_DSC6445+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kjM0XmPrJL4/Uvz1PNBW3uI/AAAAAAAABMA/QhvP0VbUaXM/s1600/_DSC6445+copy.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The content they lived with was almost contagious, I remember sitting out and just looking up at the vast stretches of nothingness, when a plane flew overhead. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PhcXasFkOoA/Uvz7v__FuhI/AAAAAAAABMc/NQ7QQl21Seo/s1600/_DSC7437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PhcXasFkOoA/Uvz7v__FuhI/AAAAAAAABMc/NQ7QQl21Seo/s1600/_DSC7437.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The people on the plane had no idea what is right under them, this whole new world where humans exist, in their most raw form. They were the most beautiful people I have laid eyes on, some of them were bare naked, some had adorned themselves with beads, some had painted themselves with ash, yet they all had a sense of regality to them.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FZbQzYsGk0I/Uvz8O1Y2yfI/AAAAAAAABMk/gCRXid2LByY/s1600/_DSC5773+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FZbQzYsGk0I/Uvz8O1Y2yfI/AAAAAAAABMk/gCRXid2LByY/s1600/_DSC5773+copy.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Xtk3zoz3DY/Uvz8O08yiTI/AAAAAAAABMs/c00Tw5P5l5Y/s1600/_DSC6096+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Xtk3zoz3DY/Uvz8O08yiTI/AAAAAAAABMs/c00Tw5P5l5Y/s1600/_DSC6096+copy.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u9dXx2O2kUQ/Uvz8Py4R70I/AAAAAAAABNA/zOHnm5HSehk/s1600/_DSC8192+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u9dXx2O2kUQ/Uvz8Py4R70I/AAAAAAAABNA/zOHnm5HSehk/s1600/_DSC8192+copy.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qx4kh2TD8is/Uvz8P_wqsoI/AAAAAAAABM4/Hpd_jeUT_xE/s1600/_DSC8135+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qx4kh2TD8is/Uvz8P_wqsoI/AAAAAAAABM4/Hpd_jeUT_xE/s1600/_DSC8135+copy.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--y4MBFmrvN0/Uvz8PtILGcI/AAAAAAAABM0/2cKfwkZO2RU/s1600/_DSC7888+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--y4MBFmrvN0/Uvz8PtILGcI/AAAAAAAABM0/2cKfwkZO2RU/s1600/_DSC7888+copy.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And that raw beauty in it’s most natural form is what I want to show the world through my photographs. The people of Omo Valley compelled me to reassess the way I looked at life, rather retold me of what is important. We get too caught up in the rat race called life, Ethiopia reminded me that money is not important to be happy, what matters is the hunt for our own happy place where we see beauty in all things.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FtowTyvNVOs/Uvz8O2jYLUI/AAAAAAAABMo/MGkWoTlQCYI/s1600/IMGL7489+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FtowTyvNVOs/Uvz8O2jYLUI/AAAAAAAABMo/MGkWoTlQCYI/s1600/IMGL7489+copy.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00863495068033802738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328220407453485421.post-68117098209753226942012-03-25T08:49:00.000-07:002014-02-13T08:22:56.012-08:00Lath-Maar Holi, Barsana, UP<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Last
year on the same day, I visited this small village near Mathura
called Barsana. It is known to be Radhaji's village. Barsana and a
few neighboring villages have this very interesting and traditional
way of playing Holi. The females of one village beat the men of the
neighboring village who come and tease them in their own village.
Thousands of devotees come here every year to see this eccentric
Holi. The visitors are mostly from nearby villages and states. And
ofcourse the non-Indian backpackers. No one visiting this village is
spared. The locals make sure that everyone is colored. No matter what
religion, profession or level of society you belong to, at the end of
this day everyone looks the same. And feels the same too, I guess.
There are no rules and unlimited colors. Majorly attracted by this
fact, my passion had to get me here.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
visited this village for the first time in 2011. Loitering in the
narrow lanes of Barsana, I was attacked by these little, angelic
devils with their water guns, spraying out gallons of coloured water
and unbound love. They knew nothing but innocent mischief and
happiness. Let alone the children, most of the locals too, made sure
there was color all over me and my dearest camera. I was enjoying it
and was merrily clicking pictures. While on the colourful, joyous
spree, I ended up in this supremely attractive lane. No idea how and
when, but I found myself in this narrow, cobbled and hued lane.
Something made me wait exactly between these two houses. It was
probably the human instinct of wanting to be safe, regardless of the
innumerable colour-attacks I had already gone through. I heard some
chuckles above me and instantly understood that some notorious
monkeys were plotting to colour me yet again. I looked up to see a
little boy positioned on one of the two terraces, to splash blue
coloured water on this person standing right next to me. I clicked.
That shot was just as spontaneous as the registration of its sight in
my head. And both probably happened at the same time. I checked my
camera- it was the best shot I had ever captured in my life. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
somehow could imagine myself playing the exact same prank, in the
exact same way, if I was a kid in Barsana. So totally awed by his
kittenish moves, I asked him his name and he replied impishly, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>“Sab
muje Chotu bulate hain”.</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
I asked him if I could join him on his terrace and click a few
pictures. We spent half a day together and I was overwhelmed by the
warmth I received from everyone at his place, including his mother.
It was one of my most memorable and satisfying experience in more
than just one way. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">That
picture travelled places. It was published in one of the best
photography magazines named “Better Photography” in India. I
received a lot of appreciation from friends and followers of my work.
Good pictures seep into you, but then there are some that </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>define
</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">you. Needless to say, this
picture is extremely close to my heart for reasons, I still sometimes
wonder about. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sz9SjMcJsk4/T280IFYzivI/AAAAAAAAAGY/Oxz5K_4ko0Y/s1600/barsana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sz9SjMcJsk4/T280IFYzivI/AAAAAAAAAGY/Oxz5K_4ko0Y/s400/barsana.jpg" height="400" width="362" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Its 2012
now, I have come again to this magical place, for the sole reason
that I have grown. Grown as a photographer, saw and understood things
in a better way, have better equipments to cover the festival in a
better way and also because I got connected to the place. This time I
am traveling with a very close friend and a phenomenal photographer,
Indrasen. We are staying in Mathura, an hour’s drive from Barsana.
We reached here early morning on the day of the festival. I was very
well aware of how crazy Barsana was going to be that day. Just as
excited as we were, I was also cautious to cover our bags and cameras
with plastic. Getting our souls drenched would be cool but we could
not afford to let the madness seep into our equipments. We reached
Barsana around noon. The village was as crazier than what I had
experienced and anticipated. It felt as if the sole purpose of these
myriad of people was to soak me and Indrasen with colours. Through
and through, again and again. We were ceaselessly bombarded with pure
gulaal and coloured water. Not one person in the village was
uncolored, now including us. We walked a little as I explained to
ndrasen how and what I did last year when I was here. We kept on
walking and clicking for a few hours.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tN73eoZOuF4/T281k-TOz1I/AAAAAAAAAGg/TTGIXbKx0iI/s1600/DSC_8319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tN73eoZOuF4/T281k-TOz1I/AAAAAAAAAGg/TTGIXbKx0iI/s400/DSC_8319.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">As we
were exploring the place, somewhere deep down my heart, I was hoping
to find that lane where I clicked Chotu last year. Eventually, as we
spoke to people on our way, and while capturing the festive moments,
we reached a lane which looked a little similar to the Chotu lane. My
heart started thumping in hope and excitement. The hand pump at the
end of the lane confirmed it to be the one I was wishing it was. I
wasn't expecting anything more to happen. I just wanted to show to
Indrasen where exactly I clicked that super shot last year. I went
and stood on the same spot and was waiting for Indrasen to come. My
friend was capturing the frolic of this little girl who was happily
lost in her play of colors, throwing 10 grams at a go. Her hands were
really small and it wasn't possible for her to grab more gulaal.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1nrNKslRk7Q/T282tk4VELI/AAAAAAAAAGw/FY1Ckp5AzhM/s1600/DSC_8373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1nrNKslRk7Q/T282tk4VELI/AAAAAAAAAGw/FY1Ckp5AzhM/s400/DSC_8373.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
suddenly hear this voice above me and I look up. It was an unknown
face. I asked Indrasen to rush as that was the exact situation as
last year and I really wanted him to feel it. As soon as he came, we
saw this man who was holding a similar bucket, filled with pink
coloured water, at the the exact same spot at the terrace, splashing
it on people passing by down there. Deja-vu. I quickly clicked a few
shots and you will not believe if I tell you that I ended up getting
an equally amazing picture. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dst_OokrmZ4/T283KtTmzKI/AAAAAAAAAG4/9eASZUw91z4/s1600/DSC_9916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dst_OokrmZ4/T283KtTmzKI/AAAAAAAAAG4/9eASZUw91z4/s400/DSC_9916.jpg" height="288" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">My emotions were just about to overflow
and guess who I saw. Yes, Chotu, looking at me from the exact same
terrace giving me a look which I could not help but capture. I
clicked and didn’t stop.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h9msWiJN66c/T283nDwUayI/AAAAAAAAAHA/j7IUjugX3rg/s1600/DSC_8412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h9msWiJN66c/T283nDwUayI/AAAAAAAAAHA/j7IUjugX3rg/s400/DSC_8412.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I called him down this time. No words can
even remotely define the rush I was going through at that point. I
just couldn't believe how the whole thing just repeated itself. I
never in my life thought, I would meet this little boy again. This
little soul because of whom my photograph went places. I couldn't
believe I was living through that moment. I literally had to close my
eyes for a bit and tell myself, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>this
is happening, Trupal. Everything around you is for real.</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
I guess he remembered me and was obviously unaware of the fact that
he got published in a magazine. It's funny how he holds so much
significance in my life and hardly knows about it. It’s funny how
thousands of people have seen him but he is least bothered about it.
It was one of those intense moment when you completely lose the
ability to think or react. He came down and Indrasen told him, “</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>tujhe
pata hai tera photo magazine me aaya hai”.</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
And he didn't know how to respond to that. He wasn't interested. Not
one bit. All he wanted to do was to play with colors and run around.
I was still glued at the same spot, thinking how life if full of
surprises. How a small moment or a person can make it so memorable.
It's impossible for me to forget that instant. I obviously went to
his terrace again, spent some quality time with his family again, and
captured some inexplicable moments for life, again. This entire
experience made me feel rooted, connected- closest I’ve ever been
to my god. </span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vVJrPDYc22E/T284E-7LxBI/AAAAAAAAAHI/Mc86IXGDIl4/s1600/DSC_8448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vVJrPDYc22E/T284E-7LxBI/AAAAAAAAAHI/Mc86IXGDIl4/s400/DSC_8448.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Mangal, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">कवि</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Mangal, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">के</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="ar-SA"> </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Mangal, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">कुछ</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="ar-SA"> </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Mangal, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">लव्ज़ों</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Mangal, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">में</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Mangal, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">जैसे</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-SG">,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.26in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Mangal, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">यादों</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Mangal, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">का</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Mangal, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">असर</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Mangal, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">बस</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Mangal, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">जाता</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Mangal, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">है</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-SG">..</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.26in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Mangal, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">तस्वीर</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">-
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Mangal, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">ए</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">-
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Mangal, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">कैद</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Mangal, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">लम्हों</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Mangal, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">में</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Mangal, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">ऐसे</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-SG">,</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.26in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Mangal, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">रब</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Mangal, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">का</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Mangal, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">अक्स</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Mangal, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">नज़र</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Mangal, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">आता</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Mangal, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">है</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-SG">.</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-SG"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I didn't
want to leave that place but I had to go. We had a lot of other
things to click. We left and started walking back from where we came.
Someone from the crowd suggested that we should go to this place
where the boys from the neighboring village gather before coming in
Barsana to get beaten up. They gather there to drink '</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>bhaang</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'.
An Indian drink which has the capablity to give you a trip equivalent
to LSD or any other hard drug. People say it can make a person
hallucinate for 24 hours or 36 hours, in worst cases. I really wanted
to try it but thought should be responsible as I was carrying some
expensive equipments. We reached that place which was under a tree,
outside the village where boys were enjoying themselves over bhaang.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ns0gFRWEzI/T284gNi2HyI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/EpK5VwGGSTg/s1600/DSC_8662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ns0gFRWEzI/T284gNi2HyI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/EpK5VwGGSTg/s400/DSC_8662.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We
clicked a few pictures there and headed back to the temple which was
on a small hill next to the village. According to the tradition these
boys have to come up to the temple, pray and then run down the hill
back to the village where the females are waiting to welcome them
with the sticks in their hands, obviously to beat them up. We reached
the temple and couldn't believe what we saw up there. Thousands of
people drenched in colour. It was a different sight all together.
Since morning we had not seen so many people together anywhere. Here
people were going barbaric on the live music of </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>dhol</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">.
Many danced like there was no tomorrow. Many watched and a lot of
other people threw water and colours on these myriad of men who were
dancing and enjoying themselves.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzOVobrPPjsbICXaXncNmjGt4T2J59aJ9SnB7-ZGlKkhZ93scdD1eWQBp-GdV80-ExKitxS1RP4TpYI5TEyWg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">There was no need to know anyone to
dance with, play holi with or to simply sit back and enjoy with. It
was an environment which would make any human being go crazy and
happy. Uncountable number of people playing holi, together. Even if
one didn’t want to play, he/ she didn't have a choice. We were
standing within this huge wave of people who were ready to race to
get inside the temple as soon as the doors opened. All these people
were dancing in the temple’s courtyard that was surrounded by high
walls and balconies from 3 sides. Masses were standing on those walls
and at the balconies to pour coloured water at others. There was
absolutely no chance that one could be spared. We really had to take
care of our equipments because we wouldn’t know how and when would
we get showered with colour and water. </span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eCkt5nJMB2c/T286d0-DWZI/AAAAAAAAAHY/2U18O67EB8U/s1600/DSC_8782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eCkt5nJMB2c/T286d0-DWZI/AAAAAAAAAHY/2U18O67EB8U/s400/DSC_8782.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">To add
to this madness the authorities arranged for a helicopter which would
come every 5 minutes and downpour rose petals on this already mad
crowd. Everytime it came, people would get charged up and welcomed it
with loud roars and hands cheering high up in the air. I had never
before this day seen anything so insane. Not even the previous time I
came here. I remember this one time just before the doors opened how
this huge splash of water drenched me and Indrasen. Before we could
get back to our senses, the door of the temple opened, and good god
gracious!- we were floating in that wave of almost 700-800 people,
being pulled and pushed by a thousand more, who were trying to get
inside the temple as soon as possible. It was like pushing a
watermelon through a keyhole. I remember how I saved my camera and
myself from getting crushed. I also remember shouting to Indrasen
“take a left as soon as you get in” because it was impossible to
be together in such madness. We entered getting squeezed and thrown
around by people. By this time I could premeditate what would be
happening inside. And I was right. Hundreds of people were just
waiting for the rest to get in. The were ready with unlimited yellow
water and colours. As soon as we entered we lost the sense of
direction. Our brains stopped working. We didn’t know how to save
ourselves and our equipments from this yellow cloudburst that came in
from all 8 sides. It was utter madness. I remember this look on
Indrasen's face which was confused and lost.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wzv6vkxj9cY/T287CKzjCfI/AAAAAAAAAHg/rE1jkfVnn_I/s1600/DSC_8900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wzv6vkxj9cY/T287CKzjCfI/AAAAAAAAAHg/rE1jkfVnn_I/s400/DSC_8900.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> I was sure he had never
seen something like this ever before. We were drenched and so were
our cameras. It was a million dollar opportunity to click this
madness but our brains stopped functioning. It took us quiet some
time to get back to normal. We couldn't even see each other, let
alone figuring camera settings and clicking pictures. We were
clicking blind(colour)-foldedly. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">In this
hysteria, no matter how crazy and bad it became, it is only our souls
and hearts that know this to be the ultimate happiness. This is what
life is for me- crazy, mad, unpredictable, full of colours and
happiness. There was so much energy. Everywhere my eyes could see, I
saw untapped excitement. Each and every human being was lost in iving
to the fullest. Enjoying to the core. That is exactly how I’d
choose and expect my life and of the ones around me to be. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I and
Indrasen together had the best photography equipments one could dream
of. From the most expensive cameras to the most amazing lenses
ranging from wide angles to 50 mm to zooms. We were skilled and had
enough knowledge to get good pictures. A photographer could not have
asked for a better view. The place was full of subjects, energy and
life. We spent 15 mad minutes inside that temple and the irony is
that both of us, together, could not even manage to get one decent
picture. The message was very clear that equipments hardly matter. It
is all just in the moment. We probably got too lost in those magical
minutes. Every second was worth it. It felt like we travelled all
this way only because we were destined to feel those maddening
minutes of bliss. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We got
out and decided to walk down hill. Exhausted, confused and puzzled
what just happened with us. We were surprised at the sight we saw as
we were coming down. It was this gang of guys who came running down
only to tease these females and to get beaten up. The entire village
went mad. The crowd from all around the village gathered in those
lanes to witness the crazy beating. I still don’t understand the
logic behind this tradition, nor do I wish to find out why they beat
and take the beating. There are a lot of things I would love to
witness/ feel and just enjoy without knowing why. I think I leave it
as soon as I get happy. All that matters is happiness. For them is
beating and for me it’s clicking. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>Haha</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0aqR49y5QIw/T287sT_pXXI/AAAAAAAAAHo/ndJzii8Tvu4/s1600/DSC_9362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0aqR49y5QIw/T287sT_pXXI/AAAAAAAAAHo/ndJzii8Tvu4/s400/DSC_9362.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I and
Indrasen kept on walking towards our car which was only a couple of
miles away. Not to forget the streets were flooded with people. 10
people were standing on a platform which could religiously
accommodate only 5. I knew that walking down those 2 miles was going
to be a mission. I was actually enjoying while I walked clicking and
saving myself from getting hit by these crazy females. Soon I
realized I didn’t have to put in any efforts to walk at all. I was
floating amidst the crowd. The mob literally was transporting my,
luckily in the same direction that I was supposed to go in. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cM_j9hQyiCU/T288AYp4X_I/AAAAAAAAAHw/AhvB_yYm7Xw/s1600/DSC_9684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cM_j9hQyiCU/T288AYp4X_I/AAAAAAAAAHw/AhvB_yYm7Xw/s400/DSC_9684.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I was
lost in my thoughts as I lost Indrasen too and was walking alone and
suddenly I could feel this gush of people behind me. I knew I was
going to be pushed by those thousands of people behind me. Before I
could think much, that little push started getting converted into a
rage. I was lucky enough to be on the side of the road and decided to
sit on this really small platform with exactly 10 inches of place to
rest my butt. I thought I was lucky till I realized that what I
simply thought could be a stampede was actually a bloody STAMPEDE.
Imagine this. I was sitting on a small platform like wall on the side
of the road, there are thousands of people and a stampede on the road
and I sort of forgot my legs in that stampede. Yes, my legs were a
part of the flow with my butt resting on that platform. Trust me and
excuse me for my language, but I had my balls in my mouth when I
realized that I am being pulled by the fucking bull like people. I
felt as if I was going to fall and die in this madness. I was on the
knee level of the rest of the people who were actively IN the
stampede. I really flipped. I remember piercing my nails in someones
thighs who was standing on that platform. I shouted and kept on
shouting “ </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>(bhaiya muje
khada karo)</i></span><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>3</i></span></sup><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
“.</span></sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> It was a feeling
of being swallowed by this huge blind and deaf mad crowd. I thank god
and that man who felt the pain of my penetrating nails and realized
that there was a man who needs to be rescued. He pulled me up. I was
shivering and was completely blank. I swear it is impossible to even
begin to express the feeling of almost facing death. It was scary.
All this while I had my video on and somehow I have managed to
capture the fear in my voice. Check out this video.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyudd7gWuaCw0wpZ_JRlhVDKl55lFF-BOm-zeJCMrOPIKWY_usTcZPqIHBqTUtXy2aGeebDkUY_21xDIGclrg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">After
the man pulled me up I stood in those 10 inches for more than 30
minutes. I didn’t want to go home. I didn’t want to reach the
car. I didn’t want to move from that place. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>I
just wanted to be there and feel alive. I just wanted to be there and
acknowledge my existence</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">. I
saw that entire stampede pass by. I saw people fighting. I saw the
females with the sticks hitting the people around them randomly. I
saw a man with a stick in his hand gone crazy and was hitting anyone
and everyone in the crowd. I was shivering and I completely zoned
out. I just couldn’t think and felt zombified . I stood still with
my video on and kept talking videos of that hysteria around me. It
was after 45 mins that I dared to step down on the road and walk back
to my car. I met Indrasen near the car equally blank and zonked. It
was like someone punching you on your nose and then drowning you in
the water. Yes I swear it was a bad. I will never ever forget those
last 2 hours I spent in Barsana.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We were
dead by the time we reached home. But the ride back was fun. There
was this local boy called Kaluaa, who was sitting with us on the back seat of
this long jeep called </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>Toofan</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">.
Haha.He entertained us so much on our way back that we forgot all out
tiredness and mental shocks. I am sure he was tripping on the bhaang.
He kept on cracking dirty jokes and passing '</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>ghati</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'
comments revolving around this female who was sitting on the front
seat of our Toofan. It was hilarious. Loads of uncontrollable
laughter- a peaceful end to the mad/ blissful/ colourful/ traumatic
day.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jcXkgOzIGRQ/T289htQdvrI/AAAAAAAAAH4/a6yZbTlzoO4/s1600/DSC_1142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jcXkgOzIGRQ/T289htQdvrI/AAAAAAAAAH4/a6yZbTlzoO4/s400/DSC_1142.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">One of
the major reasons why I love traveling so much is I can meet so many
people. It doesn’t matter what cast or level of society they belong
to. They become my best of friends. He still calls me quiet
regularly. I love such bonds which only share happiness. You know
whenever you pick up calls from such people all you'll hear is
happiness. Lot’s of it. With every trip that I make, I get closer
to my unison with the universe. And every person I meet, plays the
role of a piece in my cosmic puzzle- even one block missing and I’ll
be incomplete. At the end, everything begins to feel one- like my
life’s jig-saw is being completed.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5_ShN_pN1cE/UvzxCTgR2-I/AAAAAAAABIE/gjLEi9b0udU/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5_ShN_pN1cE/UvzxCTgR2-I/AAAAAAAABIE/gjLEi9b0udU/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+32.jpg" height="320" style="cursor: move;" width="212" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AKVj1QTKl-U/UvzxCcKe9oI/AAAAAAAABIA/mfjiCwj7mnM/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AKVj1QTKl-U/UvzxCcKe9oI/AAAAAAAABIA/mfjiCwj7mnM/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+31.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1TLAA1yzfCg/UvzxCHs74RI/AAAAAAAABH8/yBPovulZk4Q/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1TLAA1yzfCg/UvzxCHs74RI/AAAAAAAABH8/yBPovulZk4Q/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+33.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UeAiHYtd6xk/UvzxDJ3N4zI/AAAAAAAABIM/97jphSyvCgI/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UeAiHYtd6xk/UvzxDJ3N4zI/AAAAAAAABIM/97jphSyvCgI/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+34.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-87-5lsAThlM/UvzxDrMbKKI/AAAAAAAABIc/MHw9FvnnlCs/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-87-5lsAThlM/UvzxDrMbKKI/AAAAAAAABIc/MHw9FvnnlCs/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+35.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vDZI6hmszF0/UvzxD7l2tdI/AAAAAAAABIo/5bxMEZ2DoMg/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vDZI6hmszF0/UvzxD7l2tdI/AAAAAAAABIo/5bxMEZ2DoMg/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+36.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iS4I4j0Lbss/UvzxEvIm_MI/AAAAAAAABIg/oI1QTbaHhUo/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iS4I4j0Lbss/UvzxEvIm_MI/AAAAAAAABIg/oI1QTbaHhUo/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+37.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z79p2xI5kkw/UvzxFPQ1e2I/AAAAAAAABI4/NpClyly3YhY/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z79p2xI5kkw/UvzxFPQ1e2I/AAAAAAAABI4/NpClyly3YhY/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+38.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9TacHfvEzsU/UvzxFSCAZ6I/AAAAAAAABI0/QYOd8VLM8S0/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9TacHfvEzsU/UvzxFSCAZ6I/AAAAAAAABI0/QYOd8VLM8S0/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+39.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UvgEaCiSDrk/UvzxFzb-rsI/AAAAAAAABJA/sAbEOn8jgyM/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UvgEaCiSDrk/UvzxFzb-rsI/AAAAAAAABJA/sAbEOn8jgyM/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+40.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LZlBM4cU99Q/UvzxGUSmKUI/AAAAAAAABJM/MfSccg_7ASQ/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LZlBM4cU99Q/UvzxGUSmKUI/AAAAAAAABJM/MfSccg_7ASQ/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+41.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kE1YOFFNeGA/UvzxG8JUPbI/AAAAAAAABJQ/hXXDicWT1YQ/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kE1YOFFNeGA/UvzxG8JUPbI/AAAAAAAABJQ/hXXDicWT1YQ/s1600/Trupal+Pandya+42.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00863495068033802738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1328220407453485421.post-72920593322752536252012-03-05T00:39:00.002-08:002012-03-05T00:39:41.901-08:00Junagadh, Shivratri<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The roots of this story actually go 10
years down. My dad has a friend whose native is Junagadh. As a kid,
sitting with my dad and him, I heard him talking about something very
interesting. They were talking about how Naga Babas/ Aghories dwell
in Junagadh. I remember him talking very fondly about how they
meditate for years in the caves, how powerful they are and a lot of
other things which got me intrigued at that age. He mentioned how
hundreds of Aghories, coming from unknown places gather on this
particular day, Shivratri and vanish somewhere as soon as Shivratri
is over.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I don’t know what made me relive that
conversation 10 years later and 2 days before Shivratri, this year.
As soon as I realized, I called my uncle to find out if this was the
day he has been talking about all these years. I was just hoping he
says yes and he did. However, he advised me not to go there on that
day as around 1 million people, from all over the country gather
there to celebrate Shivratri and to meet their gurus. That is exactly
when I knew I was going.
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I and my cousin, who is equally
inclined towards photography and traveling, got our backpacks ready
and set off for Junagadh. It is a 6 hours drive from my city,
Vadodara and it took us 9 hours to reach. Yes, untapped excitement
and wrong exits. Always happens.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
We reached our destination at 10 in the
night. The festival had actually begun a week before we reached. The
day we reached was the last day and hence people were at their
excitement-peaks. I could not believe what I saw- Ocean of people. It
was a 5 kms road and I couldn't find even half a foot of clear space.
People were flooding in and out of the grand fair. We decided to not
walk further and call it a day. It was going to be a long shoot day
after a couple of hours.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Before I went to sleep, I was wondering
how powerful religion is, in my country. Call it blind faith,
superstitions or miracles. The Shivratri fair takes place at the
foothills of a holy mountain called Girnar. I just couldn’t believe
that so many people were simply walking towards this holy mountain,
with nothing to give, nothing to take back. No expectations, no
regrets. Just unconditional, divine faith.
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TkSYUDT9nAk/T1RnLVPcFTI/AAAAAAAAACI/82VRo1uXPaQ/s1600/DSC_5711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TkSYUDT9nAk/T1RnLVPcFTI/AAAAAAAAACI/82VRo1uXPaQ/s400/DSC_5711.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Next morning we geared up for the day
with extra memory and batteries because I was sure we were to witness
madness all day. As we started walking the road that which led to the
festival setup, we learned that a stampede had occurred there a while
ago, causing six people to lose their lives. We gulped that news
down, and in the name of god, kept walking ahead.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--QHxVDDRpjo/T1RoGrZ5kYI/AAAAAAAAACQ/X29C4tj_bPc/s1600/DSC_5746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--QHxVDDRpjo/T1RoGrZ5kYI/AAAAAAAAACQ/X29C4tj_bPc/s400/DSC_5746.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
We reached this place called Damodar
Kund- a small man-made lake that has a lot of religious significance.
<span style="color: #333333;"> They say, “Damodaram Jalawasam Sarva
Papharam Harim” ( The holy waters of Damodar Kund are the holy home
of Shri Hari, sacred bath of which relieves all kinds of sin), and
“Sakshat Sthitah Krishna Damodara eeti Smritan” ( Bhagwan Shri
Krishna is eternally present here in the form of Shri Radha-Damodarji
).</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WnXbfgMvcpY/T1RpZ3GxrQI/AAAAAAAAACs/BByww3EPaJM/s1600/DSC_5813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WnXbfgMvcpY/T1RpZ3GxrQI/AAAAAAAAACs/BByww3EPaJM/s400/DSC_5813.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-34TGTbxceUo/T1RpFVHCSLI/AAAAAAAAACY/l8SXrA7R05s/s1600/DSC_5805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-34TGTbxceUo/T1RpFVHCSLI/AAAAAAAAACY/l8SXrA7R05s/s400/DSC_5805.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;">I saw hundreds of
people taking a dip in that pond. We went in and continued walking
after clicking a few pictures. Finally having reached the fair area,
</span>I just couldn’t believe what I saw. Hundreds of Naga Babas/
Aghories were sitting in small tents that were erected on both sides
of the road. I was taken aback by their aura and the strong vibes
around them. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2XtjPlqvAUo/T1RpO6Awr7I/AAAAAAAAACg/lvAuoPhrV8Y/s1600/DSC_5810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2XtjPlqvAUo/T1RpO6Awr7I/AAAAAAAAACg/lvAuoPhrV8Y/s400/DSC_5810.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I didn’t dare to click for the first 10 minutes and
just kept walking as the Babas kept changing in the different tents.
Finally I gathered my guts to click a picture of this one Aghori,
only to get abused in the face, “Aye photu wale, hatt Bhenchod!”
and I didn’t even think for 2 seconds before expediting my pace of
walking. Yes, they do swear. Walking like that, trying to get away as
fast as possible, I was looking on my right side when suddenly I felt
a strong, rough hand on my head. The grip was the hardest ever. I
felt someone’s thumb on my forehead and four fingers around my
skull. The hand forcefully turned my head around and I flipped when I
saw an Aghori standing 1 foot away from me. Holding my head like
that, with his grip getting tighter, he pressed his thumb against my
skull and did a tika on my forehead. The tika was from the ash that
was in this wired, wooden bowl he was carrying in his other hand. I
was so scared that I didn’t know how to react. Before I could do or
say something, he commanded in a very deep, aggressive voice,
“Dakshina de”. It wasn't a request, it was an order that I had to
follow. My hand quickly ran into my pocket and I pulled out a Rs. 50
note and kept it in his bowl and wished to vanish. It took me a while
to calm down and catch my breath. I was surrounded by such insane
Aghories. Gradually as time passed, I got slightly comfortable and
started clicking. We clicked for a couple of hours and got exhausted.
It wasn’t the shooting that got us drained but probably the crowd,
lack of space, ear-splitting noise and hardly any air to breathe in.
We set off to look for a place which had no people and was peaceful.
While we were walking further up the hill, my cousin suggested that
we should rather go off-road and try finding something in the forest.
We walked perpendicular to the main road and ended on a parallel road
which was surprisingly empty, quiet and in the middle of dense trees.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FRhmweZ_by0/T1RsBiQRgeI/AAAAAAAAAC0/Pl_0Ds_wZ7I/s1600/DSC_5930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FRhmweZ_by0/T1RsBiQRgeI/AAAAAAAAAC0/Pl_0Ds_wZ7I/s400/DSC_5930.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It was nice, cool and calm. Funny how just a few meters away was this
huge fair with almost 1 million people and here we were in the forest
alone relaxing, under a tree. Suddenly we saw an army of jungle
monkeys just 10 meters away nibbling and playing.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hnfV6UOclC0/T1RtUT8W6BI/AAAAAAAAAC8/wdEanW_F2ic/s1600/DSC_6028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hnfV6UOclC0/T1RtUT8W6BI/AAAAAAAAAC8/wdEanW_F2ic/s400/DSC_6028.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
They had a new born
member who was the most curious of them all and was hell bent on
entertaining us. Something like this was really needed. We spent 2
hours clicking that monkey family which towards the end, got
comfortable enough to sit around us, as we fed them with fancy bites.
It was all fun till I tried to get my camera on the floor to get a
wired perspective shot. And I pissed the mother off.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-topsfaY5mow/T1RuQw4nzVI/AAAAAAAAADE/90ppIaqZKkk/s1600/DSC_6083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-topsfaY5mow/T1RuQw4nzVI/AAAAAAAAADE/90ppIaqZKkk/s400/DSC_6083.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
A forest officer who was passing by
told us that it was a restricted area and we weren't allowed to be
there. No wonder it was so peaceful. We bid goodbye to the ancestors
and made a quick move. We reached a nearby Jain temple and asked them
if we could rest there for a bit. The place was serene. They allowed
us to sleep and we took a nap. We woke up at 6 in the evening and
were absolutely revitalized to click again.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I had not gotten even one decent shot
till that time except for the monkeys. We went back to the fair and
started exploring a new area. A lot of devotees were heading back and
some paused to watch the young girls walking on ropes and doing their
typical stunts. I still hadn’t got a shot that could trigger my
creative juices.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Finally when we reached this new place
with similar tents around, I decided I am going to shoot fearlessly,
no matter what. I sat down in front of a Baba and took a shot. He
didn’t react. I took two more shots and stood up. I was just
looking at the pictures in my camera and I heared a voice “Oye!”
I looked at the man I had just clicked. He looked straight into my
eyes and asked “ Bhole Naath jaisa dikhta hu na?” I smiled in
relief and replied “Haan Baba, beshaq!”. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PEF-hPV8qK0/T1Rvju1cfjI/AAAAAAAAADM/kXtAI29IO0k/s1600/DSC_6287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PEF-hPV8qK0/T1Rvju1cfjI/AAAAAAAAADM/kXtAI29IO0k/s400/DSC_6287.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I sat down confidently
to click one last picture while he raised his hand to bless me. I
clicked just then and got the shot I wanted. There was no looking
back after that picture. I simply sat in front of a lot of Babas and
kept clicking. All my pictures in the album that I have uploaded,
were clicked after the <i>Bhole Naath</i> moment. After clicking for
seven hours, I finally got some mad pictures. I acted as if I was
from press and kept clicking ceaselessly. Once you are set, there is
no stopping.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-etHlRittjvQ/T1RySlTwr4I/AAAAAAAAAD8/zZrltBrbOAM/s1600/DSC_6309.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-etHlRittjvQ/T1RySlTwr4I/AAAAAAAAAD8/zZrltBrbOAM/s400/DSC_6309.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NOwT01yRrMM/T1RyXKaH2yI/AAAAAAAAAEE/AHXXsy2wsLo/s1600/DSC_6332.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NOwT01yRrMM/T1RyXKaH2yI/AAAAAAAAAEE/AHXXsy2wsLo/s400/DSC_6332.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ajk1xj_pn_A/T1RyZQiGXuI/AAAAAAAAAEM/r5IGQ0xEAv4/s1600/DSC_6492.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ajk1xj_pn_A/T1RyZQiGXuI/AAAAAAAAAEM/r5IGQ0xEAv4/s400/DSC_6492.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QYOrfVDn7Ms/T1RybpmqN3I/AAAAAAAAAEU/WnAIIX6gGSs/s1600/DSC_6511.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QYOrfVDn7Ms/T1RybpmqN3I/AAAAAAAAAEU/WnAIIX6gGSs/s400/DSC_6511.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vRJXzSo84m4/T1RydtdJVBI/AAAAAAAAAEc/0Pq7Kvwbss0/s1600/DSC_6539.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vRJXzSo84m4/T1RydtdJVBI/AAAAAAAAAEc/0Pq7Kvwbss0/s400/DSC_6539.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7T3FhGx1dHw/T1RyfG21jYI/AAAAAAAAAEk/lRH0yu65y_w/s1600/DSC_6565.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7T3FhGx1dHw/T1RyfG21jYI/AAAAAAAAAEk/lRH0yu65y_w/s400/DSC_6565.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RAPUSNwjR7w/T1RyhFKW_sI/AAAAAAAAAEs/itZ5ICHeG9o/s1600/DSC_6652.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RAPUSNwjR7w/T1RyhFKW_sI/AAAAAAAAAEs/itZ5ICHeG9o/s400/DSC_6652.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4filMQZ1tHo/T1RyjOwMyNI/AAAAAAAAAE0/NHhytbQMd6g/s1600/DSC_6688.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4filMQZ1tHo/T1RyjOwMyNI/AAAAAAAAAE0/NHhytbQMd6g/s400/DSC_6688.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P1ELv1uKw-U/T1RynM8oBfI/AAAAAAAAAE8/3gogwsWLVz0/s1600/DSC_6788.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P1ELv1uKw-U/T1RynM8oBfI/AAAAAAAAAE8/3gogwsWLVz0/s400/DSC_6788.gif" width="260" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GugcFN9h4js/T1RypfEPJmI/AAAAAAAAAFE/qRsWAWpHrtg/s1600/DSC_6840.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GugcFN9h4js/T1RypfEPJmI/AAAAAAAAAFE/qRsWAWpHrtg/s400/DSC_6840.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ySq_G_PhoeQ/T1RyrUSJ5vI/AAAAAAAAAFM/jFq03RuZjpI/s1600/DSC_6950.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ySq_G_PhoeQ/T1RyrUSJ5vI/AAAAAAAAAFM/jFq03RuZjpI/s400/DSC_6950.gif" width="260" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
We were dead by 12:30 am. It was more than 12 hours that
we were in the festival. We realized we had to walk 5 kms back to
reach our vehicle. We were really tired and hungry but were satisfied
to have gotten some good clicks. It is amazing how I could simply
connect to so many unusual people, may it be only for a few moments.
I realize that I will probably never see them again in my life, but I
still have them captured permanently.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Gir- the last home for Asiatic Lions,
was just 1 hour away from where we were. No cookie-points for
guessing if we went there or not.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ao9oafbQ6GQ/T1R6J-cSL3I/AAAAAAAAAFU/Rp0sCd_f08A/s1600/DSC_7092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ao9oafbQ6GQ/T1R6J-cSL3I/AAAAAAAAAFU/Rp0sCd_f08A/s400/DSC_7092.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-38Q61hqf0Y4/T1R6Qpn-7WI/AAAAAAAAAFc/t_SojApVzz0/s1600/DSC_7123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-38Q61hqf0Y4/T1R6Qpn-7WI/AAAAAAAAAFc/t_SojApVzz0/s400/DSC_7123.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b6lVlPPycXU/T1R6XHVuj1I/AAAAAAAAAFk/mE74bihG57c/s1600/DSC_7167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b6lVlPPycXU/T1R6XHVuj1I/AAAAAAAAAFk/mE74bihG57c/s400/DSC_7167.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TPdvp09hRns/T1R6bsEVA-I/AAAAAAAAAFs/eA8JeyBxmG4/s1600/DSC_7542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TPdvp09hRns/T1R6bsEVA-I/AAAAAAAAAFs/eA8JeyBxmG4/s400/DSC_7542.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-du8OoXv7DXE/T1R6hXTbIkI/AAAAAAAAAF0/mc2R13ARfuQ/s1600/DSC_7560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-du8OoXv7DXE/T1R6hXTbIkI/AAAAAAAAAF0/mc2R13ARfuQ/s400/DSC_7560.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ze_en2HlUMo/T1R6k93qWUI/AAAAAAAAAF8/PDnf91JmwTo/s1600/DSC_7569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ze_en2HlUMo/T1R6k93qWUI/AAAAAAAAAF8/PDnf91JmwTo/s400/DSC_7569.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DT1DE1a-Gcw/T1R6msr-q6I/AAAAAAAAAGE/llDg-G_dM3k/s1600/DSC_7575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DT1DE1a-Gcw/T1R6msr-q6I/AAAAAAAAAGE/llDg-G_dM3k/s400/DSC_7575.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UEzfeykUl7g/T1R6vFuJIoI/AAAAAAAAAGM/ocG_pYVbzzY/s1600/DSC_7593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UEzfeykUl7g/T1R6vFuJIoI/AAAAAAAAAGM/ocG_pYVbzzY/s400/DSC_7593.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
We spent two days in the forest and
captured what we were hoping to. We were lucky to spot a nicely
built, handsome lion- just a few feet away. With him were 8
beautiful lionesses and a cub. Perfect.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
One of the best trips of my life came
to an end as we packed up and left for Vadodara. </div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00863495068033802738noreply@blogger.com0