Allahabad: A City Wedded To Realism (Photo Feature Part One)

Allahabad enjoys a glorious legacy. It’s a city that has been dominated by best minds since time immemorial. Its ancient name Prayag is associated with Rishis (saints) and Devas (demigods) eager to have an opportunity to live in this city.  Sri Rama, incarnation of Lord Vishnu,  and, Sri Shankaracharya, incarnation of Lord Shiva,  both came to interact with this city in their own ways.  Needless to state about Kumbh Mela, which provides it a global appeal.  And who can forget its role in Independence movement? And in post- Independence  era, it still continues to dominate the course of this great nation by giving birth to remarkable thought patterns. Leading politicians, top bureaucrats, great literary figures and etc.  all belong to this city. This city wedded to realism is very very slow in embracing ultra-modern changes, but now it has  started accepting bizarre changes all in the name of being in tune with time!

Even Allahabad’s Skyline Above A Busy Corner Of The City Speaks About Saints 🙂

This city has imbibed secular spirit so well without any adherence to so-called secularism demonstrated by modern India’s so-called secular leaders. It’s beautiful Central Methodist church located in Civil Lines.

Another beautiful church located in Allahabad called “All Saints Cathedral” (Patthar Girja)! Designed by William Emerson this church depicts Gothic style.

A Busy street in Chowk Area. It’s always a great rush here!

Another corner of Chowk area. This area comes in old Allahabad.

Don’t be confused! It’s not a gali of Benaras. It’s Allahabad’s Loknath Ki Gali 🙂 Here too, like Varanasi’s gali, you would find Lord Shiva, Bull, Bhaang, Mithai, Chaat and sea of people 😛 😛 😛

Yum! Yum! Yum! Sweets being made in Loknath Ki Gali. It’s called Imarti 😛 😛 😛

Parrots on sale 😛

 

This is Baldau’s famous newspaper corner at very busy crossing of Johnstonganj 🙂 These two brothers started this shop in late 90s and even in era of Internet they have done well to retain the flow of customers!

And here Lord is on sale..I mean their images 😛 😛 😛

Hot Popcorns 😛 😛 Garma Garam Aur Karare 😛 😛

It’s the place which defines the existence of Prayag..It’s the place which bears testimony to one of the largest gatherings on planet earth called as Kumbh Mela..This is Sangam area, which is confluence of three rivers, namely, Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati!

Visitors from distant lands arrive at this divine place 🙂

Usually one finds  Pandas beneath such constructions-the people who perform religious rituals on banks of rivers…However, at this time, we are noticing only the devotees 😛

Well, it’s a great feeling to be at this place…It fills you with positive energy!!

 

Evening Hours At Sangam 🙂 So Beautiful 🙂

On Road To Sangam 😛

During Mela time it’s absolutely jam-packed!

These routes are created during Mela days to allow smooth passage of vehicles!

Beautiful View Of The Sangam Area!

Now That’s The Place Which Witnesses Millions Of Devotees Each Year 🙂

I also left my footprints here 🙂 🙂 🙂

A Bird’s Eye View Of The Sangam Area 😛

Glimpse of devotees at this place. They come from various parts of India with a hope to have their wishes fulfilled. But not without taking a dip in the icy waters 😛 😛 😛

This Is Allahabad’s Fort built by great ruler King Ashoka! Now it’s under the control of Indian Army!

This beautiful fort was repaired by Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1583 A.D. !

This is famous Akshayavat Temple situated inside Allahabad Fort. This temple has so many great stories associated with it from being the only place to survive during great annihilation of universe by the Lord to a place associated with visit of Lord Rama, Sri Sita Maiyya and Sri Lakshmana!

In Uttar Pradesh very few cities have beautiful roads 😛

 

This is Bade Hanuman Ji’s Temple located in Sangam Area. It’s an extremely popular temple among the devotees! Notice the huge number of devotees at this place! Interestingly, every year Sri Hanumanji, who is in lying position in this temple, is made to have total bath by Ganges at least once 🙂

Life around this temple. It’s so colourful and serene 🙂

These three fellows were having great arguments among themselves..Later they became friends 😛 😛 😛

Modern upper class women might not be interested in buying any item from these shops but women from rural belts spend a long time on these shops to have their beauty enhanced 😛

This is a temple dedicated to Sri Adi Shankaracharya ji. Sri Adi Shankara ji was India’s greatest philosopher who added new dimensions in Advaita Darshana. This temple is managed by Shri Kanchi Kamkoti Peeth.

Entrance Gate Of This Temple.

Various episodes from the life of Sri Adi Shankara have been shown via images carved on the walls of the temple. In this one, we find him having a dialogue with another great philosopher of his times Sri Kumarila Bhatta 🙂

Now who can forget Sri Adi Shankara’s debate with Sri Mandana Misra– a great Hindu philosopher ?  🙂 🙂 🙂

Just close to this temple one would find this beautiful shop selling decorative items made of brass and other metals!

It’s a beautiful affair to have a lonely walk on these roads in Sangam Area 🙂

Close to the Sangam area lies Allahbad’s Daraganj area. Allahbadis best remember it for Niralaji’s presence, who happened to be doyen of Hindi literature. Notice his statue behind the vegetable shop!

The rustic feeling which one gets on being streets leading to Daraganj is quite unique 🙂

This street is bit cleaner without losing its rustic appeal 😛

And Daraganj area has its own railway station. Small stations have their own unique charm 😛

And I also came to notice these very beautiful calves in Daraganj area 😛 😛 😛

Daraganj area has many well-known temples. One of them is associated with Goddess Shakti: Alopi Devi’s Temple. During Navratris there is huge flow of devotees 🙂

Inside view of Sri Alopi Devi’s Temple 🙂

Now how can Lord Krishna remain far behind 😛 😛 This temple known as Rupa Gaudiya Math is part of Vaishnava cult. It’s learnt that Srila Prabhupadaji  took initiation here from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati ji Maharaja! Jai Sri Krishna 😛 😛

And the life goes on in routine way on streets running parallel to this temple 🙂

And I also came to notice this Sanskrit College associated with Sampoornananda University, Varanasi, in Daraganj area 🙂

Have you tasted Dehati Rasgulla 😛 If not, then it’s time for you to taste them :P. My favourite shop lies in Bairahana area..During my college days, this was my favourite place for Rasgullas 😛 …And notice the huge crowd 😛

They taste really good :P…Just have them before I come back with Part 2 of photo feature associated with Allahabad 😛 😛

P.S. :- The copyright of these images rests with the author of this post. Anybody making use of them without prior permission of the author, or without giving due credit to the author, could be penalized as per legal norms.

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 References:

Allahabad: City Of True Beauty, Real Romance And Mysticism (Photo Feature Part 2)

Allahabad: A City Wherein Global Salutes The Local (Photo Feature Part 3)