Project 365, Day 61: Mahabbat Maqbara….

Mahabbat Maqbara…

My second visit here and I really can’t get enough of it. It takes me a while to take in the elegant minarets and amazing workmanship. I visualize a pale intricate structure with a backdrop of a blanket full of stars. It’s already past 10PM and not visible light, except for the occasional vehicle lights from the road. Armed with a 50mm lens only, I try in vain to get the entire structure in one frame. Finally I have to put the camera on the railing across the road at an awkward angle to avoid the glare from the risen moon. A 15 sec exposure and I get this picture.

#art #Gujarat #project365 #2013 #Nightphotography #photography #architecture #History #India #heritage #Junagadh

Project 365, Day 60: Dance of the deity

Dance of the deity…

After descending the 700 odd footsteps of the Temple of the Goddess Chamunda, a hindu deity at Chotila, we were treated by the deity herself. A woman, adorned by bright red clothes, tongue out, a sickle and a trishul (traditional Indian trident) in hand,walked with a crowd at the foot of the hill. The form of the woman indicated possession by the goddess Kali. Someone from the crowd made space for her , and her dance began.

The woman, as if in a trance, performed the garba (traditional dance), to the song that  was being played in the background on the chariot adorned with plastic flowers. The crowd stared in awe, as she moved in circles with grace. After a minute or so, the tongue was no more out, she held up her instruments, one of destruction, the trident, and the other of creation, the sickle, thoroughly satisfied smiling. Then she swiftly began ascending the steps to meet her creator..

#people #Kali #Gujarat #2013 #ReligionandSpirituality #photography #candid #India #Entertainment #life #Project365 #Photos #documentary #Hindudeities

Project 365: Day 59, Afternoon nap…

Afternoon nap.. A auto rickshaw driver takes a nap, on a hot day in Ahmedabad

On a particularly hot day in Ahmedabad, people can be seen scurrying around for an inch of shade. The afternoon gets hot and working at such a time is never preferred. So the next best thing is to take a nap! Err….Don’t try this in your work place, your boss might not find it amusing!

#people #Gujarat #2013 #ArtsandEntertainment #photography #Ahmedabad #streetphotography #hotday #Entertainment #life #Project365 #autorickshawdriver #street #documentary #streetphotography