Varanasi: The City Of Moksha (Salvation)-Photo Feature
My Train To Varanasi Just Left Allahabad Junction’s Platform 🙂
Beautiful and serene Ganges 🙂
And Arrives Varanasi-The City Of Lord Shiva 🙂
The City Close To My Heart 🙂
Varanasi : One of the oldest living cities in the world 🙂
The Square (read crossing) always enjoys a heavy traffic in Varanasi 🙂
You will not find streets empty in Varanasi 😛
Mall Culture Also Prevails In Varanasi 🙂
Photogenic Kids Playing In One Of The Lanes In Varanasi 😛
Varanasi Breathes In Lanes 🙂
Every time I Visit Varanasi I Always Notice Streets In Making 😛
Benaras Hindu University Hospital
Roads Spread On The Campus Of Benaras Hindu University Were Not Only Clean But Also Empty!
A Beautiful Road Leading To New Vishwanath Shiva Temple Situated On The Campus Of Benaras Hindu University 🙂
Benaras Hindu University Has A Huge Campus 🙂
New Vishwanath Shiva Temple 🙂
Myself Outside The Temple 🙂
My Brother-in-Law Who Works At BHU Hospital Happily Played The Role Of Lensman For Images Which Feature Myself 😛 The Statue Behind Him Belongs To Sri Madan Mohan Malviya Ji Who Was The Founder Of This Great Benaras Hindu University (BHU)
Beautiful View Of New Vishwanath Temple 🙂
Inside The Temple 🙂
Extremely Beautiful Ceiling 🙂
Beautifully Built Temple 🙂
The Temple’s Walls Are Full Of Inscriptions Carved On It Over Marble Slabs 🙂
Sri Nandi The Bull : Vehicle Of Lord Shiva 😛
Greenery Is In Abundance 🙂
Sri Nandi The Bull Also Acts As Transmitter 😛 Devotees Of Shiva Believe That Whatever One Speaks Into The Ears Of This Bull Reaches Straight To Lord Shiva 🙂 My Brother-in-Law Did Not Miss The Opportunity 😛
For Me It Was Enough That I Came To Have The Company Of Nandi Maharaj 😛
On The Stairs Leading To Lord Shiva 🙂
Happy Divine Moments 🙂
Enveloped in divinity 🙂
The Simple Structure Behind Brother-in-Law Is Used By The Devotees To Engage In Chanting Mantras 🙂
Rose Garden 🙂
Extremely Beautiful View Of Temple 🙂
Evening Arrives 🙂
It’s A Two Storey Temple 🙂
Glad To Notice Sri Adi Sankara’s Bhaja Govindam Strotam 🙂
Lord Shiva’s Statue On First Floor 🙂 Jai Shiva 🙂
That’s The Statue Of Lord Shiva Situated On The First Floor 🙂 Om Namah Shivay 🙂
Beautiful Ceiling That I Noticed On First Floor 🙂
Also Noticed Sri Laxmi- Narayana Ji’s Statues 🙂 Salutations To Both Of Them 🙂
Complete Srimad Bhagavad Gita Inscribed On One Single Marble Slab 🙂 Jai Sri Krishna 🙂
Also Noticed Sri Gautam Buddha In A Shiva Temple 🙂
One Feels Great Peace Of Mind At This Place 🙂
Goddess Durgaji’s Statue Inside The Temple 🙂 My Pranama To The Mother Of Cosmos 🙂
Brother-in-Law Sitting In Meditative Mudra Under Ashoka Tree 🙂 That’s The Same Tree Under Which Sri Sitaji Sat When She Was Held Captive At Lanka. It’s Believed That This Tree Has The Power To Make You Rise Above All Worries 🙂
Kanha My Cute Cousin Really Taken Aback On Seeing Me Leaving Varanasi. He Came To Bid Me Goodbye 🙂 Relax! I will Come Again And Again 😛 😛 😛
Hope Lord Shiva’s Blessings Always Keep Me In State Of Bliss 🙂
Mother Ganges At Mirzapur Which I Noticed While Going To My Village From Varanasi 🙂
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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Allahabad: A City Wherein Global Salutes The Local (Photo Feature Part 3)
I have no hesitation in admitting that Allahabad (ancient name Prayag) redefined my beingness.It made me down-to earth, allowing me to view life in its true shades. Although I tried my best to capture all the shades of Allahabad, I am sure I would have missed some beautiful locations. I hope future writers would explore these untouched places in a colourful way. However, in the last part of the photo feature, I have shifted my attention from modern landscape of Allahabad to areas which still remind of the ancient times. Infrastructural bottlenecks prevented me from using state-of-the-art technology in capturing the images and that made me bit depressed. However, now in the aftermath of the publication of photo features, I feel pretty satisfied that I still came to do some good work. These photo features are a tribute to great city Allahabad- my birthplace. A city that taught me how to emerge successful in rising above contradictions to have glimpse of the Absolute!
Such roads making their way through dusty colonies of Allahabad remind me of Varanasi! This road connects Anand Bhawan area with Katra. Katra is very poular among middle class section of Allahabad. It’s also most favourite destination of students; after all, it lies close to Allahabad University 🙂
Katra resembles Varanasi city in its style and mannerism!
It was cold and foggy when I came to visit Katra but observe the rush at this place. On ordinary days, this popular crossing at Katra is so full of people that traffic policemen are reduced to caricature of sorts while managing them!
This road needs no introduction for Allahabadis 😛 It’s University Road 🙂
One of the eminent hostels associated with Allahabad University. It’s named after Sir Sunder Lal, who in 1906 became the the first Indian Vice Chancellor of Allahabad University! He was by profession an advocate, who later also served as High Court Judge.
Right in front of one of the gates of Allahabad University-Oxford of the East !
One of the things which separates Allahabad University from Benaras Hindu University, Varanasi, is the quality of roads spread in University area 😛 😛 .. The streets adjacent to Benaras Hindu University are so much in love with potholes that while walking you have to look downwards all the time with fear ha..ha ..ha ..That’s not the case in Allahabad 😛 😛 😛
On The Campus Of Allahabad University 🙂
Once upon a time I always ventured on these beautiful roads situated on the Allahabad University’s Campus 🙂
A beautiful park on the campus of University..Notice no love birds are present 😛 😛 😛
In my days it was not a Central University. Today, it has attained the status of being a Central University!
Road adjacent to Allahabad University…When you move ahead on this road arrives Prayag Railway Station!
Loitering on these University Roads was one of the main activities during College days!
Don’t be confused 😛 We are still inside University’s Campus 😛 😛 😛
Notice the activities on main University Road. Streets remain the same but faces of students get changed!
Main Katra Market!
A prominent Goddess Kaliji temple at Katra, Allahabad!
This time Lord Hanuman Ji is resting inside the Temple : -)
One of the street crossings at Katra 🙂
A glimpse of life at Katra!
Lonely Road in Allahabad 😛
The most prominent Sports Complex in Allahabad! It’s named after movie superstar Amitabh Bachchan, who hails from this city 🙂
Maharana Pratap Crossing 🙂
It’s getting dark 🙂
CMP Degree College in Allahabad- a constituent college of Allahabad University. It has produced great students in past. And so it really saddens me when I hear about stories of violence, disruption of studies on its campus. I had been student of this college and we remember that in our batch most of the students came to score more than students of Allahabad University in prominent subjects like Philosophy, English Literature, Physics and etc. !
And under this great tree Philosophy and English Literature students often had great discussions. Long Live This Cute Tree 😛 😛 😛
At this place it was so hard to control the tears..At this place I found some great teachers like Anand Srivastava Sir (Philosophy), K K Ghatak Sir (English Literature), K C Srivastava (Ancient History) and many others who imparted so many values to young and fresh minds like us! In fact, they were generous enough to give additional lectures in staff room during lunch hours!
Road that led to English Lectures in those days 🙂
The park in which my science department friends played cricket during Chemistry hours 😛
I hope new students who become part of this great college would keep its standards high. I am happy to notice that most of my friends from this college of that batch, from both Arts and Science Wings, have done exceptionally well in their post college lives! And I should not hesitate to state that I also fell in love with someone at this place 🙂
This cute Krishna Temple in Meerapur area makes me smile. That’s because this area has prominent Shakti Peeths of Allahabad: Lalita Devi Temple And Kalyani Devi Temple!
Entrance gate of Krishna Pranami Temple 😛 ..Name itself is so cute 😛
Goddess Lalita Devi Temple In Meerapur Area! It’s one of the Shakti Pithas in Allahabad!
Goddess Lalita Deviji 🙂
Actvities like Ved Paatha always takes place inside Lalita Devi Temple 🙂 Sadly, I could not get a better image 😦
Outside Kalyani Deviji Temple 🙂 Beautiful structure 🙂
Inside View Of The Kalyani Deviji Temple 🙂
Another view of Kalyani Deviji’s temple 🙂
And life goes on at its usual pace outside Kalyani Deviji’s temple!
Road Adjacent To Ewing Christian College!
On the way towards Muthiganj 🙂
Life in another part of Allahabad away from the glamour of elite areas like Civil lines 🙂
Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama, Allahabad. It was established by by Swami Vijnanananda in year 1908! He was a monastic disciple of Sri Ramakrishna!
Front View Of This Important Spiritual Center in Allahabad 🙂
It has got its own wonderful library! No wonder this Mission is so popular among students!
Meditation room inside this Mission having images of Sri Ramakrishna, Ma Sarada Deviji, Swami Vijnanananda ji and Swami Vivekananda ji!
Books For Sale Inside The Temple 🙂
Close Look At The Books 🙂
Havana Taking Place On Occasion Of Vivekananda’s Birth Ceremony At The Mission 🙂
Swami Nikhilatamanandaji, current head of this center in Allahabad, giving lecture on relevance of Swami Vivekananda’s views in modern times!|
Very Conscious Listeners 🙂
Swamijis at Ramakrishna Mission are very well-informed, highly educated and down-to-earth people!
This tea stall has photo of Sri Anna Hazare 😛 😛 😛
Sri Krishna Selling Jewellery 😛 😛 😛
Khusro Bagh in Allahabad…A place that gives glimpse of Mughal architecture. It has “tombs of Khusrau Mirza (died 1622), eldest son of emperor Jahangir, Shah Begum, Khusrau’s mother (died 1604), a Rajput princess and Jahangir’s first wife, and that of Princess Sultan Nithar Begam.” (Text borrowed from Wiki)
This place cultivates best varieties of Guava. This park is about to get the status of National Eco-Knowledge Park!
It has been renovated to attract tourist 🙂 I am happy that it is close to my house 😛
Peace prevails here 😛
Besides Guava trees a large number of mango trees are found here!
As informed earlier such parks in Allahabad are often occupied by students preparing for competitive exams…See how they are engaged in studies 🙂
Eco-friendly Hanumanji inside Khusro Bagh 😛
One of the tombs situated inside the Khusro Bagh!
Green house plantation inside the Khusro Bagh!
Very old Banayan Trees inside Khusro Bagh…If you sit under them you are bound to engage in deep meditation 😛
Very Beautiful Scene Inside Khusro Bagh…Leaves Everywhere…A Very Striking Image Both Philosophically And Aesthetically 🙂
It was a delightful sight for me to see cricket match going on at such a romantic place 😛
Cricketers giving a pose 😛 😛 😛
I had a hard time bringing this squirrel under the lens 😛 😛 😛
Such Scenes Make You Fall In Great Romance With Nature 🙂 🙂 🙂
Another Tomb Inside Khusro Bagh!
A flower fallen on ground yet it has such a bright smile 😛 ..We should be like this flower: Broken and dejected yet always smiling 🙂 🙂 🙂 Anyway, it’s called flower of Semal Tree (Bombax cieba)
Khusro Bagh Has Awesome Sight 😛
PINKISH BLISS 😛 😛 :P…
That’s commonly called Cotton Tree (Bombax ceiba). In India it’s called Semal and we often notice this tree along the road in Allahabad!
Noticed this depressed motor bike inside Khusro Bagh 😛 😛 😛 “Girls don’t trust me” 😛 😛 😛
May Lord always give such unfortunate souls enough to eat! I wonder why state-governments do nothing for these abandoned souls? It’s really a sad scene!
And these are fortunate souls, who came to take a dip at Sangam during Kumbh Mela..Now they are happily returning back to their respective places! They come from distant lands, facing all sorts of hardships!
Unlike women from cities, these rural woman are quite tough both physically and mentally! The city women are usually bit lazy types 😛 😛 😛
Varanasi sees foreign visitors throughout the year but in Allahabad foreign visitors come only during special occasions like Kumbh Mela, International Conferences and etc. Here they are seen waiting for train at Allahabad Junction!
Hope they had nice experiences in Allahabad 🙂 🙂 🙂
A Bird’s Eye View Of My Locality From Rooftop Of My House 🙂 🙂
This pic is especially for the likes of Sucheta ji and Carmenji living in foreign lands 🙂 I hope Suchetaji, living in USA, comes to notice at least one cute activity taking place on Indian roof 😛 😛 Kids from my family having a great time on the rooftop 🙂
Allahabadis love flying kites 🙂 View of the beautiful sky over my roof 🙂
And these are students of the year 😛 😛 😛
Kids engaged in serious discussion right in the middle of the street! Kids have become so serious nowadays 😛 😛
This corner at my locality remains quite busy during festivals 🙂 🙂
A Railway Over-bridge close to my locality!! And notice one guy walking in the middle of the railway tracks! That’s why tragedies take place!
Sports Stadium Belonging To Railways!
And evening prevails 🙂
On the road near Baluva Ghat! This area is in old Allahabad!
Activities Near Baluva Ghat. Well, ghat in India signifies that we are close to the bank of a river!
Lord Hanumanji in the making 😛 😛 😛
Ma Yamuna ji ..She is very dear to Lord Krishna 🙂 And I am really disappointed to see so much garbage on its banks..Let’s not forget that it’s a very busy place owing to religious ceremonies taking place throughout the year.
Who has allowed black beauties (read buffaloes) to take dip in Sri Yamunaji 😦 😦 😦
Scenes around Baluva Ghat made me feel I have traveled back in time!
Black Beauties Have Now Attained Regular Moksha (liberation) 😛 😛 😛
Myself at Khusro Bagh 🙂
India is land of great rivers and great mountains. It’s our duty to keep them clean. Why are we so casual in keeping them in good shape? Hope Sri Yamunaji remains evergreen in this nation. Just see what we have done to her in Delhi area! Let’s not the same happens to her in Allahabad. Jai Sri Yamunaji..Pranama to Everybody: Sri Radha Krishna, Gopas, Gopikas And Cows 😛 😛 😛
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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Reference:
Allahabad: A City Wedded To Realism (Photo Feature Part One)
Allahabad: City Of True Beauty, Real Romance And Mysticism (Photo Feature Part 2)
Allahabad: City Of True Beauty, Real Romance And Mysticism (Photo Feature Part 2)
Many find Allahabad a very tough place to live an honourable life. That’s because even though it came to enjoy a wonderful divine legacy, it never ensured a desired vibrancy for average souls. It never created any scope for living a truly fun-filled life, being all the time involved in dry intellectual activities. Lack of proper encouragement on the part of city towards its vast pool of talented brains have now given way to brain drain sort of affair. Many great souls remained an unsung hero in this city. However, what’s amazing is that it keeps on producing great souls at a regular interval! In nutshell, it’s a city of true beauty, real romance and mysticism. The city teaches you how to remain true to life in a real way, making it very clear to any conscious soul that life is not a bed of roses and it is meant to discover new mysteries of nature. Naturally, average souls running after money, fame, beautiful girl, big house, big car and many other cosmetic affairs would always feel disappointed to be part of this city. Having said that, I hope this city learns to truly honour its exceptional souls and also learns to be bit more blissful!
That’s one of the major Lord Hanuman Ji’s temples situated in the heart of the city.. Anyway, it’s so ironic to see love birds engaged in romantic talks at this place 😛
The Streets Of Civil Lines Make People Of Other Areas Jealous 😛
Hard to forget this guy…During university days, I came to buy so many great classics, costly magazines at very reasonable rates..And this person made way for all sorts of desired adjustment. He proudly told me that someone from Times of India also came to click image of his magazine corner…This shop is hot favourite among students! Although Internet has affected the sales, it was good to anticipate the great spirit of his father, also seen in the pic, who digested the change in philosophical way. Now that’s called wisdom!
Quite a romantic place to have tea! It’s adjacent Company Garden!
When I say it’s a romantic place I really mean it too..Just close to this tea shop in Civil Lines area we have many beautiful plant nurseries.. So the air is full of fragrance 😛
Allahabad’s museum inside Chandra Shekhar Azad Park (Alfred Park or Company Garden). This museum displays the vehicle which carried the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi for immersion at Sangam and many other articles of great historical significance!
This park established in the memory of great revolutionary Chandra Shekhar Azad is now favourite place for morning walkers living in the heart of city.. In the noon time, one notices new- age romance 😛 Anyway, it’s a great place for an outsider wishing some isolated hours!
At such places, like this old man, one gets lost in deepest memories hidden in subconsciousness!
Company Garden has the honour of having this wonderful Government Public Library. This majestic building built in Gothic style was designed by R. Roskell Bayne. This building is of immense significance since here only Legislative Council for the North Western Province and Oudh held its first meeting on January 8, 1887. Let’s not forget that Allahabad was capital city of United Provinces from 1902 to 1920! Anyway, I am happy that in my college days I was the most frequent visitor! Even now also I can be seen here 😛
It’s not that one notices only romance in parks..In Allahabad most of such parks are occupied by serious students preparing for competitive examinations!
And those students who are not studying inside Company Park are seen ferociously involved in Cricket match 😛 ..This is the biggest park of Allahabad.
Just see the vastness of the park that many teams are playing at the same time 😛 😛 😛
Saint Joseph’s college which lies adjacent to Company Garden 😛
That’s the road which connects Company Garden with Civil Lines-the heart of city dominated by glamour and modernity!
The Mall Culture In Civil Lines!
Well, this new age glamour does attract me but not for long!
Statue of Subhas Chandra Bose Amidst Mall Culture 😛
Laxmi Book House is first choice of any journalist! By the way, how many times do you notice cinema hall and prominent magazine/newspaper corner close to each other 😛 😛 😛
Palace Theater enjoys a great place in the memories of all good cinema lovers. It’s one of the oldest theaters in the city. However, its old charm has given way to this new modern appearance ! My choice also witnessed drastic changes from “Thodi Se Bewafai” (1980) to ” Ship of Thesus” (2012) at this Palace Theater 😛 😛 😛
However, this historic cinema hall in old Allahbad, Niranjan, failed to start again. This hall needs to be renovated at the earliest. Two prominent movies which I came to see here when they got released were Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi(1982) and Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park (1993).
Indian Coffee House enjoys a special place in hearts of all literary class. It has witnessed many great literary and political figures carving a niche for themselves at global level since late 50s!
Resting place of capitalist forces 😛
Worried about your future 😛 Consult this astrologer at Civil Lines under this tree 😛
A Tree taken aback by pomp and show at Civil Lines 😦
Public Service Commission – an office where my father worked as an officer. And we lived in the residence situated on the huge campus of this office. Later, we shifted to Lucknow branch of the same office! Allahabad is city devoted to prominent government offices in Uttar Pradesh. Civil Lines area is mainly occupied by such government institutions.
Allahabad is also known for coaching institutes!!
And that’s the place where I work: Allahabad High Court 😛
Greenery is in abundance at Allahabad High Court 😛 😛 😛
Nearly all newspapers have their offices in Civil Lines area. However, Northern India Patrika’s office holds a special place in my heart. This is one of the oldest newspapers in India which started in year 1868. It was then named Amrita Bazar Patrika. Today, all good news editors and journalists are by-products of this newspaper. Today it’s financially not that successful but editors like V.S. Datta have kept its standards high. V.S Datta, senior-most journalist from Allahabad, is its editor since early 60s. And when my first article appeared in print in this newspaper in year 1995 he was the one responsible for its publication. I owe a lot to him for all my accomplishments as a writer/journalist. May Lord give him long life and good health!
A Journalistic road..The road running parallel to Patrika House!
Lawyer’s Hanuman Temple 😛 😛 😛 It’s situated close to Allahabad High Court. Most of the lawyers first have Hanumanji’s blessing and then proceed towards their respective chambers 😛 😛 😛 …
Geeta Niketan Temple In Tula Ram Bagh!
These areas are so over-crowded that one thinks twice before paying a visit ! This place is called Kotha Parcha. Courtesy Telephone Department that I have to come here quiet often to buy phone related instruments 😦
One of the busiest rail bridge!
Pathar Chatti Ramleela Committee’s Venue which hosts many programmes related with cause of Hindus! It’s situated in Ram Bagh area of Allahabad.
This Hanumanji’s temple in Rambagh is also quite well-known temple in Allahabad 🙂 Hanumanji rocks in Allahabad 😛
Cute Street At Rambagh!
It’s a place which gives rise to new doctors 😛 😛 😛
Allahabad has proper roads, any doubt? 😛 😛
Theosophical Society in Allahabad. ” Blavatsky portrayed the Theosophical Society as being part of one of many attempts throughout the millennia by this hidden Hierarchy to guide humanity – in concert with the overall Intelligent Cosmic Evolutionary scheme – towards its ultimate, immutable evolutionary objective: the attainment of perfection and the conscious, willing participation in the evolutionary process.”
Roads teach you a lot!
This place bears testimony to meeting of Rishi Bharadwaja with Lord Rama…However, this park is nowadays chosen spot of lovers 😛 ..Anyway, meeting of Sri Rama, Sri Vishnu’s incarnation, with Rishi Bharadwaja would always remain one of the most significant moments in the history of Prayag!
Sometimes some places in Allahabad give you the feeling that you are moving in Kashi 🙂
That’s the ancestral home of India’s first prime minister Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru which Indians know as Anand Bhawan. It played a significant role in Indian freedom movement. That’s why visitors never miss this place 🙂
Hope new generation gets right message from being at such places. This place also has a famous planetarium.
Places like Anand Bhawan are not picnic spots but these places are now best remembered for spending few hours in fun-filled way..Anyway, historical legacy has ensured survival of these small shopkeepers selling eatables!
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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Reference:
Allahabad: A City Wedded To Realism (Photo Feature Part One) Allahabad: A City Wherein Global Salutes The Local (Photo Feature Part 3)
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)
Beautiful Images That Strengthen My Deep Village Connection! (Photo Story Part III)
I am really happy that my previous two posts, namely, Some Breathtaking Images From The Land Of Ganges ( Photo Story Part One) and An Interaction With Ethereal Wonder In My Village (Photo Story Part II) received terrific response from the side of readers. It really overwhelmed me because being an amateur photographer I did not expect such encouraging review. I was not able to include few images in previous two parts because having given way to strict editing I felt that these images were not as important for creating a perfect impression. Now I feel that these images should also get published, after all, judging whether an image is perfect or not cannot be the sole discretion of the photographer! And ,therefore, I take the liberty to publish some of the images related with the same tour to my village. And by doing that I feel that I am granting moksha to these images- moksha ( total liberation) from my possession 🙂
Train that steadily and slowly moved towards my station Pahara. Word “Pahara” refers to mountainous landscape which prevails in this region..
That’s the road which connects Allahabad and Mirzapur..It’s runs side by side the rail route to Mirzapur…
Scene around a railway station…
That’s the beauty which encircles Platforms !!!
Most Passengers I notice are involved either in sleeping inside the train compartment or if they are not doing that they are engaged in dull activities. And so they always miss such scenes…
Indian Railway Stations Have Their Own Charm 🙂
Vindhyachal: A Shakti Peeth Held In High Regard By The Devotees…
Black Beauties Swimming 😛 😛 😛
Life Never Stops!!!
Life Around Mirzapur Railway Station 😛
Mirzapur : Place Associated With Kajaris ( Folk Songs)
Passengers Leaving Jhingura Station As They Got Off The Train 😛 😛 😛
Beautiful Roads …..
Eyes so frequently meet beautiful scenes outside the train window…
So The Train Finally Reached At Pahara Station!
The train that brought me to Pahara station leaving the station 😛
That’s The Small Post Office Operating At Pahara Railway Station….
Pahara Station Has Two Loop Lines ..This Is The First One…Loop Lines For Passenger Train Means Delay Hours..So We Passengers Pray That Train Never Stops On Loop Line…But Passenger Trains Run More On Loop Lines Than Main Lines Courtesy Controller Sahib In Love With Express and Goods Trains 😛 😛 😛
Rice Fields That Belong To Me 😛
And that’s the route I travelled to reach to my rice fields and home at Village Kanaura …That’s the route I always followed since childhood…
This beautiful muddy route, connecting Pahara Railway Station with Kanaura village, always haunts my consciousness!!!
Beautiful Birds Visit My Fields…In The Morning Time I Saw Many Peacocks But Could Not Click Their Images..However, This Fellow Got Clicked…But This One Was Not Very Camera Friendly 😛 😛 😛
My Father Sitting Outside My New Home At Village…He Is Architect Of My Dreams At Village 😛 😛 😛
Children going to school 😛
Evening Hours In My Village…
Beautiful View Of My Fields…
Kids playing outside the road at my new village home 🙂
Regular scene outside my new home in village 🙂
Life begins with sunrise in villages 🙂
Kids playing close to my old ancestral home 😛
It’s never easy to click the image of birds..You have to chase them for hours 😛 😛 …This one is called ” Kathphodva :P” in my village 😛
Grandmother Of These Kids!!!!
Do you think it’s an easy task to walk on these pagdandis-the narrow muddy routes?
Hope greenery always prevails in form of these crops..Imagine if some calamity leads to destruction of these crops? Let’s crops always give good yield to farmers!
And hope my deep association continues with Ganges in hereafter journey as well!!
At Pahara Station…Dusk has prevailed and my train is late yet I am not worried…I am lost in memories of days spent at my village Kanaura…
Pahara Station Bathed In Evening Light…
An Express Train On Up Line Is Approaching Fast ( Main Line II) ..And you can notice that a passenger train is standing from quite a long time on loop line II 😦
Anyway, I was back in my city on the eve of Deepawali.. One of the corners of Allahabad City Right Before The Deepavali Celebrations…
Celebrating Deepawali With Cute Nieces ….One of the reasons I had to cut short my village visit so as to not miss the celebrations with them…
One of the reasons to be at Village is that it sustains my romance with nature..And one of the reasons to be in Allahabad is that it sustains my love for these cute kids ….They are not innocent as they appear 😛 😛 :P…The third one from the left is my cousin 😛
For The Readers:
All the images have been clicked by the author of this post. The copyrights of the pics rest with this author. So I request not to make use of any of the pics without prior permission of the author or, for that matter, they can be republished only after giving due credit to the author while using them in any way.
References:
Link To Part One Of This Photo Story: Some Breathtaking Images From The Land Of Ganges
Link To Part Of This Photo Story: An Interaction With Ethereal Wonder In My Village
An Interaction With Ethereal Wonder In My Village (Photo Story Part II)
I am really glad that the conscious readers worldwide made their presence felt on part I of this photo story. Although I have not learnt photography in professional way, I came to learn few tricks in company of expert photographers who also happened to be my friends. I realize photography is an excellent way to capture emotions which cannot be conveyed through words. My association with my village transcends the limit of words. It’s very very deep one. Luckily enough, I have found creative mediums to manifest the intrinsic elements of this emotional bond with my village. Indian villages are still the best place to discover real India. My village is no exception. However, what makes my village unique is the divine presence of Ganges in its full splendour. And I am sure if I venture again on this planet in my next births this alone be my place of birth and my karmabhoomi too ( a place where one is professionally involved).
This road leads straight to home built by my ancestors in the heart of villlage Kanaura. This road is right in front of my new home at the fields.
Notice my new home and the metal road that runs at a stone’s throw from it, leading straight to both my home built by the ancestors and banks of Ganges 🙂
I am so lucky that such scenes prevail almost every-time when I take a morning walk on this road…
On both sides of this road one notices Mango and Mahaua Trees…During childhood favourite past-time was to target green mangoes with stone avoiding the eyes of the owners 😛 😛 😛
That’s the most common scene you notice on village roads…Love Cows..Love their owners- the gwalas…However, what I hate is that they mix so much water in milk that when I prepare tea I do not feel the need to add water 😛
That’s the defunct canal which runs side by side to both metal road and muddy road leading to my village..I remember in my childhood it was so alive with waters of Ganges..Now no one uses it anymore! Ganges does not have sufficient waters to sustain it..
So Beautiful Trees….
Lord Is Truly Artistic Guy 😛
Walking Under The Shade Of Trees 🙂
As we reach close to village scenes change…The village life becomes more visible…See the “Upalis” piled up in artistic way 😛 ..They are prepared from cow-dung and are used as primary source of fuel in Indian villages…
They are first dried under the sun like this way before being piled up 😛
Right now fields are lush green with rice crops…However, many farmers have “Bajra” and ” Jhunri” crops in their fields!
In my childhood sugarcane farming was popular in my village..Now very few farmers grow it in my village…Found this field having sugarcane crop 🙂
Moving closer to my ancestral home 😛
The metal road you just saw takes this form as it enters inside the village 😛
Most of the homes in my village have given way to modern style of architecture…Very few huts can be noticed in my village..Even this one is made of bricks and not mud…My own original home made of mud collapsed sometimes back due to heavy rains!
Ganges flowing at the outskirts of village 🙂
Hope Ganges Always Remains Behind My Back 🙂
The outskirt of village!!
Felt tired after a long walk….So resting under shade of tree 🙂
That’s the ancestral home built by my grandfather…The vacant space you see is cricket pitch prepared by me..Since childhood seen all village kids gathering here to play cricket…And even now at this age I play cricket with them with same zeal even as it leads to minor quarrels with the neighbours ! Right now some trespassers have captured it with the Upalis 😛 :P. So while playing cricket we ensure that ball hits them for maximum number of times 😛 😛 😛
My real self lives in my village at this home..And please my home number is not 65 as inscribed on its wall…It’s the highest score scored by one village kid in five overs 😛 😛 😛
At my home amid greenery 😛
The other end of vacant ground.. The home built by the ancestors was a huge one..Today nothing remains…Since I do not live here villagers use it for their personal affairs…And when I am here I remove all the encroachments and make the cricket ground bit large 😛 😛
At Small Shiva Temple Built By My Ancestors…Hope to find His blessing always 🙂 🙂
This Neem Tree Is So Special For Me..In Childhood All My Friends Played So Many Games Under Its Shade All The Time…Today neighbours complain that its branches hang dangerously over their houses…I am in serious dilemma 😦 😦 😦
If The Tree Falls My Own Home Would Be The First One To Collapse But I Am Not Making Any Hue And Cry Like My Arrogant Neighbours..View From The Top Of My Cricket Ground 😛
Ideally my vacant space should be neat and clean this way…That’s the vacant space owned by my neighbour …See cute village kids playing on it…We have been bold enough to defy the orders of neighbour not to play cricket here..Anyway, once I start living here my first priority would be to make my vacant space as neat and clean like this one 😛
My village is really beautiful 😛
An ideal village home has such beautiful plants planted outside their homes..Me too wish to have these plants at my vacant space..Right now it’s being used by the trespassers!
And I will love to own cows..I like them so much…My ancestors had many cows and we had separate cowshed for them….After all, it fills one with bliss when one sees such scenes…
Inside View Of My Villages..
View of Ganges Between The Neem Trees From My Rooftop 🙂 🙂 🙂
My Favourite Pagdandi 😛 …Pagdandis Are Narrow Muddy Routes 🙂
An Ideal Hindu Brahmin Family.. Misconceptions Have Been Deliberately Spread By Foreign Historians That Hindu Brahmins Do Not Promote Daughters…This Famiily Has Only Daughters ( Five Daughters) And No Sons…And Above All Very Proud Of Their Talented Daughters…Stop Painting Brahmins In Wrong Colours!
With Vijay…He Is one of my best childhood friends…Gentle one and not naughty like others 🙂
Bold And Beautiful Cow….She Was Aware That I Was Going To Click Her Image..And So Look The Way She Is Staring It Me 😛 😛 😛
This Child Has Just Taken Cold Water Bath…Now Taking Sun Bath 😛 😛 😛
Small Kids Always Remind Me Of The Lord’s Face 🙂 🙂 🙂
Kids Playing Cricket….
That’s the most popular venue for playing cricket….And you can notice a match is going on ….I have played many memorable matches …In fact, before this match I came to play two match series Brahmins Vs Yadavs 😛 😛 😛
Although village hand pumps are working smoothly, it’s the scenario when tube well’s supply is available 🙂
On The Banks Of Ganges One Always Notices Shiva Temples…My Village Is No Exception..This wonderful Shiva Temple Greets You As You Move Towards The Ganges 🙂
During my frequent visits to banks of Ganges I always came to notice these three doggies 😛 😛 😛
O Boat Take Me To The World From Where I Never Return To This Cruel World!
Even Boat Has A Partner Boat 😛
Lovely Sight…It Reminds Me Of The Song “O Manjhi Rein” 😛
Lovely Landscape 🙂
To Be Near Ganges Makes On Feel So Refreshed 🙂
This pose was asked by the one who was clicking my image ..He made me try different poses but all in vain since he was clicking image for the first time..Still he managed to click few image of mine satisfactorily 😛 😛 😛
He Is The Naughtiest Boy In My Village..Happily For Me He Agreed To Act As Photographer With Zero Nuisance Impact 😛 😛 😛
Anyway, camera in my own hands gave birth to these sensational images 🙂
Ganges Shows Her Real Charishma In My Region 🙂
What Can Be More Beautiful Than This?
Speechless!!!
Beauty Should Be Divine!
It’s proving to be a tough task to find suitable expressions for these wonderful images !!!
Again And Again I will Be Born Here 🙂 🙂 🙂
Morning Sun 🙂
My Mornings And Evenings Are Usually Spent Here 🙂
Trying To Carve Fitting Expression For These Images Dipped In Divinity 🙂
Clouds Meet The Earth 🙂
When Beauty Transcends The Human Expressions!
Awesome Sight 🙂
Lovely Banks ….Take A Walk On Them And Your Senses Attain Instant Nirvana 🙂
Krishna Must Have Played Cricket On These Type Of Banks Alone 🙂 See The Animals Grazing The Grass 🙂
Stillness Always Resides Here…
Trees Hugging Each Other….
Spellbound!!!
In The Land Where Clouds Bend To Kiss The Earth 🙂
Now I Walk On This Pagdandi To Reach My New Home At Fields….From Where I Will Walk Towards The Railway Station!
My Rice Fields 🙂 🙂 🙂
Noticed This Chameleon Called Girgitaan At My Village 😛 😛 :P..It’s becoming a rare specie since most have taken birth as human beings to become Indian ministers 😛 😛 😛
Evening Prevails In My Village!
In Its Company I Feel Composed Inside!!
The Canal Divides Into Two Parts Adjacent My New Home…And Notice That A Minor Pagdandi Runs Parallel To It…It Leads To Railway Station….
Going To Railway Station Amid These Lovely Fields 🙂
This Farmer Asked Me To Click His Image 😛 😛 😛
It was getting pretty dark and I had yet to cover a long distance !!! And above all, I ran the risk of missing the train as well the way I stopped again and again to capture the scenes 😛 😛 😛
Noticed This Kid Asking Her Mother To Stop Work And Take Her Home!
Now Very Close To The Railway Station …This Beautiful Muddy Road For The Time Being Would Be In My Memories Now..
Such Beautiful Images Will Keep Me Happy And Peaceful For A Very Long Time….
When I Will Come Back Next Time Rice Crop Would Be Ready To Be Harvested !
Left The Rice Fields Far Behind To Come Close To The Railway Station…
I Am Never Happy Faced As I Wait For Return Train…And That’s The Case Since Childhood….Friends Are Sarcastic About My Village Love..They Say People Leave Villages To Move Towards Cities And You Plan To Do The Reverse….I Have A Fitting Response But Prefer To Make Them Live In Their World Of Ignorance!
Happily Train Was Late…My Beautiful Station Looked Awesome As The Dusk Came To Envelop It..Sipping The Tea I Remained Lost In So Many Thoughts…
I Never Get Annoyed When Train Gets Late At My Pahara Station 😛 😛
Night View Of The Pahara Station…
The Evening Passenger Train ( Mughalsarai-Allahabad Passenger Train) Makes You Feel Like King…See The Empty Coach..And You Would Not Believe It’s Empty Like This Through The Whole Journey 🙂 🙂 It’s A Very Romantic Affair To Be All Alone This Way 😛
Managed To Find One Passenger In My Compartment..But He Too Left Me All Alone After Two Stations…Anyway, This Sort Of Royal Feeling You Can Never Get In Jam-packed Mail/Express Trains 😛 😛 😛
And I Keep Looking Outside To Meet Such Scenes Outside The Train’s Window….
For The Readers:
All the images have been clicked by the author of this post. The copyrights of the pics rest with this author. So I request not to make use of any of the pics without prior permission of the author or, for that matter, they can be republished only after giving due credit to the author while using them in any way.
Link To Part One:
Some Breathtaking Images From The Land Of Ganges ( Photo Story Part One)
Some Breathtaking Images From The Land Of Ganges ( Photo Story Part One)
Rural India retains its rustic charm. Its demography remains serene and pleasing to eyes. However, lifestyle of people living in villages has changed dramatically over the years. It has become as complex and superficial like the one prevailing in Indian cities. The lust to be in sync with the time has made innocent villagers victim of capitalist forces. That has made them oblivious of their own rich legacy. Now they have dish antennas over their rooftops but they lack the expertise to work in fields! In fact, they have now become so used to sophisticated lifestyle that they feel reluctant in working in fields.
Anyway, my village Kanaura, falling under Mirzapur district in Uttar Pradesh, is situated at the banks of river Ganges. It’s surrounded by Vindhya Hills. It’s obvious that beauty of nature has come alive in all its colours at this place. This travelogue in two parts showcases the beauty which graces my village. And yes, the train which one notices in this part is Allahabad-Mughalsarai Passenger, which runs right time in morning session but the return journey from this train is a delayed affair. It runs on every day sans Sunday.
That’s Yamunaji during morning hours…Just couple of months ago she was so furious when her waters caused huge loss…Now looks so pleasing…Anyway, railway bridge over this river is the first one as the train leaves the Allahabad station to move ahead on Mughalsarai-Howrah rail route.
The road also leads to my village but I prefer rail journey…It’s so romantic affair to be seated inside train’s compartment 🙂 …And I always prefer passenger trains for shorter journeys since it allows me to see life in totality!
And when train stops the eyes meet wonderful scenes :-)..The saint is so eager to catch the train 🙂
That’s River Tons..It’s tributary of river Yamuna and it originates in Garhwal region of Uttarakhand.
At Manda Railway Station ….This place is associated with former Prime minister of India Vishhwanath Pratap Singh…
India is a huge country …This gets confirmed as you try to capture the distance from eyes through the train’s window!
Such scenes outside the train’s window always delight me!
Just before Birohi Station This Curved Road Always Manages To Catch My Sight!
It’s so fascinating to see the activities when train halts at these beautiful stations!
Such beautiful scenes keep meeting the eyes!
Innocence at its best..Sleeping baby inside the train’s compartment!
At Vindhyachal Station….This place associated with Goddess Vindhyachal Mata is very special in the hearts of Hindu devotees…This station is unique in a sense that it has Shlokas and Verses from Ramcharit Manas mentioned on the walls of the station.
A girl at Vindhyachal Railway Station…
Well, life is full of episodes of various types..Something you realize as you look outside the train’s window!
Mirzapur Station Is Where I Always Get Off If I Am On Super-fast trains…Then I catch an auto for my village …However, I need not to worry since this is passenger train and it’s bound to stop at my station 😛
So beautiful Indian girl..What really impressed me was that she was lost in such deep thoughts even at this tender age!
When I was a kid and this station arrived I was always taken aback by its small size..I used to wonder hey where is the station? Now when I have grown up I still fail to treat it as a station! It makes me smile..Even the name is so fascinating : JHINGURA :P…Anyway, my own destination station which arrives after this one is not only bigger but also so beautiful 😛 😛 😛
JHINGURA 😛 😛 😛 …I feel happy when I see this station…After all, it gets confirmed that next one is mine station 😛
That’s The Road Which Goes To My Village…If I Am On Auto This Is The Route I Follow…However, I Am On Train Now 😛
Pahara Station Is Arriving 🙂
Pahara Station Has Arrived..The Train Left The Station Quickly 😛
Pahara is a beautiful small station 🙂
Inside View Of Pahara Station 🙂
When Will My Train Arrive 😛 😛 😛
These shops when I was kid did not have pucca walls 🙂 Anyway, I have my snacks here once I get off the train!
Anyone visiting my village shall be asked to take this metal road to reach my village Kanaura..However, I avoid this road since it makes the distance long..I prefer the muddy road exhibited in next picture 🙂
That’s the muddy road ( Pagdandi) moving along the defunct canal which takes visitors straight to my village Kanaura…Since this road moves side by side the canal it’s easily traceable amid so many other smaller muddy routes 😛
I have seen more than two decades of my earthly existence but really happy that this muddy road to my village remained the same 😛 ..I love leaving my footprints on it since childhood 😛
