Just came across some images on BBC News Asia published in 2014. These are black and white images of women taken in the era of 1850 to 1950
Group of Marathi women in 1875 (Credits: BBC News- Asia)
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Tamil cinema-song played on a South Indian classical wind instrument. This instrument referred as “Naatha swaram” made out of wood.
வரியந்தோரும் நடக்கும் யாழ்ப்பாணக் கோவில் திருவிழாக்களில் தவில் நாதசுர கச்சேரிகள் சகஜம். கோயில்களுக்கேற்ப 10, 15,25 நாட்களென திருவிழாக்கள் தொடரும். திருவிழாக் கடைசி நாட்களில் முக்கியமாக சப்பறம், தேர், தீர்த்தம் , பூங்காவனம் போன் ற திருநாட்களில் பல தவில் நாதஸ்வர வித்துவான்கள் கச்சேரிக்கு வருவார்கள். இவர்கள் கச்சேரி, கடைசியில் மேளச் சமாவுடன் முடிவு பெறும்.
பிரசித்தி பெற்ற யாழ் நல்லூர் கந்தசுவாமி கோவில் திருவிழாக்களில் 23ம் நாள் தேர் உற்சவம் நடைபெறும். காலையில் தேர் இழுத்த பிற்பாடு, பிற்பகலில் சாமி இறக்குவதற்கு முன் தவில் /நாதஸ்வரக் கச்சேரி மிகவும் ஆவலுடன் எதிர்பார்க்கப்படும். இது இலங்கை வானொலியில் அநேகமாக ஒலிபரப்பப்பட்ட காலமும் உண்டு. (தற்போதய நிலை தெரியாது).
கிராமப்புற கோவில் திருவிழாக்களில் தவில் கச்சேரிக்குப் பின்னால் “சின்ன மேளம்” நடனக்குழு, பொப் இசை பாடல் குழு என இத்தியாதி இத்தியாதி. இதற்காக இரசிகர் கூட்டம் பல தூர இடங்களில் இருந்து படையெடுக்கும். இதைவிட இலங்கை இந்திய புகழ் பெற்ற யாழ் மகன் தட்சனாமூர்த்தியின் கச்சேரிக்கு சொல்லவா வேண்டும். தவில் மேதையை பார்ப்பதற்கென்றே மக்கள் கூட்டம் வாரி வாரியாக வந்திறங்கும்.
சிறுவயதில் மீசாலையில் வெறுங்கால்களுடன் மணல் வீதிகளை உலாத்தி வெள்ளை மாவடி பிள்ளையார் கோவில் திருவிழாக்களை பார்த்த காட்சி இன்றும் பசுமையாக நினைவில் உள்ளது. சாவகச்சேரி நாதஸ்வர வித்துவான் ஸ்ரீ பஞ்சாபிகேசன், கோண்டாவில் பாலக்கிருஷ்ணன் நாதஸ்வர சகோதரர்கள், தவில் கணேசன், கானா மூர்த்தி –…
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Today is the 68th death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi the Father of the Nation of India. Mahatma means the great soul (maha – athma). Gandhi was assassinated at the former Birla house in New Delhi on the 30th of January 1948. The non- violence advocate was met by his assassin Nathuram Godse a Hindu nationalist while he was walking with his grand nieces to a prayer in the garden. Gandhi was aged 79 (2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948)
Former Birla house is now known as Gandhi Smirti which serves as a museum for the great soul as he has spent his last days in that house. Last January our family had the opportunity to visit the former Birla house and would like to share some photos on Mahatma Gandhi’s 68th Death anniversary.
Tracing Gandhi’s last steps in this world
On the way to his prayers
Accompanied by his grand neices
The place of Gandhi’s martyrdom
last few minutes..
“Hey Ram” was the last words uttered by the Great Soul.
Mahatma Gandhi stayed in a room at the back of the Birla’s house. It was a simple room with his only few possessions as described in the images.
A view from his room to the garden
Worldly remains of Gandhi
Mahatma’s bed without sheets (currently it is covered with a sheet and a cushion)
A little space where he met his visitors (Birla’s house)
Spinning wheel and a desk to use his mighty pen. Three favourite monkeys are also in the image ” See no evil, hear noevil speak no evil”
Gandhis’ walking stick and his footwear
Gandhi, a living truth by Rabindranath Tagore
Check this child’s amazing talent at this tender age!
The photos were taken at a Kathakkali dance performance at Fort Cochin in the Indian State of Kerala. Vibrant natural colours used as facial makeup. Prior to the performance elaborate makeup for the dancers were done in front of the audience. Bravo to the makeup artists.
A Kathakkali dancer at Kerala, India (Facial make-up is done with natural colours)
Kathakkali Dancers: a male dancer dressed as female consort
Kathakkali dancer with a circular (white) extension to his face (Kerala, India)
This entry is in response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Vivid.”
Intricacy and India go hand in hand. The 16th century white marble mausoleum, Taj Mahal leads the intricacy work not only in India but also in the world.
The white marble walls of the monument are inlaid with semiprecious stones such as jade, amethyst, lapis lazuli carnelian etc. Inlaid stones are polished and leveled to the surface of the marble walls using a technique referred as pietra dura.
Intricate depiction of flowers and vines also have been carved into the marble stone and polished to reflect in the sunlight. Below is a minute section of the intricate work of the magnificent monuement of an Persian Architect.
Intricate carvings on white marble and pietra dura techniques on dados (lower part of the wall) (Taj Mahal)
Photo: Saba-Thambi Jan2015Dados (lower part of the walll) on the wall of Taj Mahal (photo : Saba-Thambi)
Close-up view of the dado depicting the carvings and motifs of flowers (Taj Mahal) Photo- Saba-Thambi Jan 2015
Flowers and vines are carved on the white marble and flower motifs as border(Taj Mahal)
Another close-up view of the inlaid semiprecious stones.
A detailed floral pietra dura with coloured stones (Taj Mahal)
Part of the border with semi precious stones.
The above post is in response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Intricate.”
All of the entries are great but some of them are above all:.
2. Fibonacci (Nature’s intricacy)
Mamallapuram is a place in South India situated ~ 60 km south of Chennai (Madras). Travel time by car takes approximately an hour from Chennai. Historically Mamallapuram was a busy seaport and now a tourist attraction. Tourists flock the place to view famous rock carvings and temples (rathas) which were carved in granite during 7th– 8th century. It is one of the many world heritage sites in India and also an archaeological site of the Tamil Nadu state.
Butter ball
Apart from the carvings, there is a large ball of stone balanced on hilly slope positioned as if it may roll down any minute.
Krishna’s Butter- Ball at Mamallapuram (Front view) (photo: Saba-Thambi022015)
Tourists taking photos at Butter-Ball (Photo: Saba-Thambi Feb 2015)
According to the tour guide, the rock has been there for many centuries. During British occupation in the eighteen hundreds the rock was tested against gravity to see if it could be rolled away from its position. They also used roped elephants to pull it down but the ball never moved an inch!
The locals coined the rock “Krishna’s butter ball” as Lord Krishna was notorious for stealing the butter balls in his younger days. Even though the rock looked like a ball from one side, the view from another side tells a different story. The side view reveals the elongated part the rock hence the center of gravity well and truly balancing the rock without falling!
Side view of the Butter-Ball (photo: Saba-Thambi)
Nowadays the rock has become an attraction where tourists pose for photos as if they were preventing the rock from sliding down the slope. The rock was never free to take a photo without anyone in the background. It was also providing shade for the tourist to stay away from the hot sun.
” The grass withers and flower fades.
It is seasonal lasts for a very short time”
Desert Roses : Aeroville- Pondicherry, India (Feb 2015)
In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Ephemeral.”
Brightly coloured fresh flower garlands take an important place in Hindu Culture. whether a happy or sad occasion, flowers take the central role in the ritual. At temples or at weddings, vibrant fresh flower garlands looks magnificent . In my ” Travel – Trails” I have clicked this flower stall at Pondicherry (Puducheri) town in South India.
Vibrant colour Garlands at a flower stall at Pondicherry, India
Behind the stall busy hands are engaged in making fresh garlands ( Pondicherry, India Feb2015)
This post is in response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Fresh.”
A world-wide telephone survey was conducted by the United Nations.
The only question asked was:
“Would you please give your honest opinion about possible solutions to the food shortage in the rest of the world?”
UN declared that the survey was a complete failure because:
In Eastern Europe they didn’t know what “honest” meant
In Western Europe they didn’t know what “shortage” meant.
In Africa they didn’t know what “food” meant.
In China they didn’t know what “opinion” meant.
In the Middle East they didn’t know what “solution” meant.
In South America they didn’t know what “please” meant.
In the USA they didn’t know what “the rest of the world” meant.
And in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Britain, citizens hung up the receiver as soon as they heard the Indian accent.
