PONDICHERRY re-visited

LOCATION: PONDICHERRY, TAMILNADU, INDIA

YEAR OF VISIT: JUNE 10, 2012

It was a plan; a plan that was planned almost 8 months before it was executed. Apeetha, the one with whom I converse through silences, has been that one friend with whom I have always wanted to escape to some far away place. Everytime I visited Chennai, we would hope we would make it. But sadly, our plans seemed to be destined to remain as a distant dream. Just as we were about to give up on each other, a sudden sense of wanting took control of us and we decided to make it happen, no matter what comes our way. A night-over at her place charged us with nostalgia and we cherished each memory until our senses started wearing out. We decided to let the trip to Pondicherry complete our unfinished business (gossiping- what else?!) The reality of the trip happening did not sink into us until we got into a bus that took us to our soul city. This trip is special to me because of our togetherness, our promise, our friendship and our unexplainable love for each others silent company.

The bus stop from which you get the bus to Pondicherry is served with water for public, an act of concern by Ms.Jayalalitha (present Chief Minister of Tamilnadu).

The MOTHER ASHRAM
Someone should tell this mother-daughter duo that I am no alien.

This is definitely one of the cutest gestures I have come across! Anklets for the elephant!

Lakshmi, the holy elephant.

The text (in tamizh) translates to 'Shiva Shiva. Lord Shiva is one of the trinities of Hinduism.

Damn it! He spotted me!

Receiving blessings from her.

A beautiful detail.

Statue of the great Tamizh poet Bharathiyaar stands tall besides Bharathi park, named after him.

Both sat together simultaneously.

Bleeding sculpture?

Lazy afternoon for all

There she is, my darling Api.

Just could not get enough of her pure beauty!

Look who is with her!

FOOTNOTE: In case you missed my previous visit to Pondicherry, you can enjoy them right HERE.

Festive PUNE - Set 1

LOCATION: PUNE, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA

YEAR OF VISIT: 2011

The trip was planned by my mother in a very short notice. It was a perfect surprise visit. Mother wanted to cover almost all the holy places in the city and charted out a tight plan. As always, I trusted my 'instinct', my 'eye for detail's and my 'obsession' in connecting with a city, as I got into the car with my parents. The trip lasted for less than a day. Yet, I somehow ended up clicking nearly 450 photographs of very interesting and 'irrevocable' scenes of the city. Let me warn you in advance that this only 'one' of the faces of this city.
I shall be uploading the pictures in parts for both of us to enjoy the images better.This set emphasises on the street life of the city.

Have a great stay here and catch the 'whiff' of Pune.

A buffalo is decked up and given a re-vamp as a part of custom followed during the most famous festival of India, viz. Diwali.

Some Sanskrit texts are written and etched on its hairy skin. Its horns are coloured 'saffron' plausibly because it is the colour of sacrifice.

The organic 'squares' outside the temple inevitably form the 'spill out' space or 'interaction' space for the city dwellers.

CAPTURED AT:  Dhagudu Sheth Ganapati temple.

One of the many interesting faces I have come across in my life. His deep eyes unsettled me.

CAPTURED AT:  Dhagudu Sheth Ganapati temple

The 'shlokas' are painted on the walls of the temple. In earlier days,, such holy texts were 'engraved' on the 'masonry' facades of the temples.

CAPTURED AT:  Dhagudu Sheth Ganapati temple

 The queue system like in any other huge temple works efficiently here too. Those huge decorated bells are for the occasion of Diwali.

Lord Dagadusheth Ganapati himself sits there giving darshan to people inside the temple and outside, thanks to the glass facade.

An old man tries to get a glimpse of the Lord from the street.

CAPTURED AT:  Dhagudu Sheth Ganapati temple

A lady offers auspicious flowers to the Lord.

CAPTURED AT:  Dhagudu Sheth Ganapati temple

He smears the holy ash on a devotee.

CAPTURED AT:  Dhagudu Sheth Ganapati temple

CAPTURED AT:  Dhagudu Sheth Ganapati temple

Engrossed in his own wealth.

I was fascinated by this lady's 'balancing act'!

Serene PONDICHERRY

LOCATION: PONDICHERRY, TAMILNADU, INDIA

YEAR OF VISIT: 2011

If there ever is a place of ‘liberation’, a place of ‘soul’, a place of 'originality', a place where natural and supernatural entities ‘co-exist’, and a place that is yet ‘grounded’, then it has to be Pondicherry.

Personally, I enjoy traveling and experiencing the city alone. Here I bring you the ‘feel’ of the city through my work. If by viewing the pictures, you are 'urged' to visit the city, nothing else can be more 'honorable' to me. I wish you a great journey and stay here.

 

 THE MOTHER ASHRAM 

The very source of inspiration for the city.

A place to where you lose yourselves in the fragrance of exotic flowers, surrender at the 'samaadhi' of Shri Aurobindo and The Mother, and find yourself within you.

VILLA BLANCHE - The 'White' town

Being the base of French quarters during the French and British rule in India, a remarkable influence of French rule can be witnessed in 'a' part of the city. Racial discrimination was expressed in terms of architecture by demarcating the city into 'White' town and 'Black town'.

The White town encompassed the typical French principles of designing; well zoned streets for parking, pedestrians and structures.

The amalgamation of French and Indian elements of architecture is vivid in this picture.

 

 GOLCONDE: A dormitary for The Ashram
This structure is a living example of The Ashram's principles.
Relish its quality interiors via the link I have attached to the name.

My eyes do not miss the details. They form the most trivial and exhilarating part of any world. 

The brilliant simplicity of this wooden door framed contrastingly with the rugged grey RCC column and beam with a blank white wall serving as the perfect background  swept me off my feet.

 

          

     

The Indian sentiment is to be noticed in the picture on the left. The mask of a 'rakshasa' (the devil) is displayed on the exterior walls of many houses to ward off the evil eye.

 

 

 The vibrant colors and the artistically carved details speak Indianess in every respect. It seems to be a habitat of a French person from the name plate.

And now I take you to the 'breezy' side of Pondicherry.

 This woman was bewitching. I saw myself in her. She was enjoying her lone moment the way I do. It looked as if she was listening to the waves and smiled back with absolutely no inhibitions.
She was one with the city. She made my day.