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)
Acute Power Failure In Allahabad: Kareli Power Substation And Other Substations In Huge Mess
That’s Kareli Power Substation. Notice That It’s Locked From Outside During Duty Hours. That’s The Way It Functions!
The political party which has no sound policies cash in on populist measures to gain power. If such a political party somehow manages to register its presence in corridors of power, it proves to be an ominous sign for the growth of democracy. Uttar Pradesh is facing similar crisis in the regime of Samajwadi Party. Right from series of communal riots in various parts of states to administrative failures in various major cities the state has been held hostage to dangerous elements masquerading in various forms. The Samajwadi Party wooed young voters by promising laptops and nobody questioned the utility of launching such scheme at cost of taxpayers’ hard earned money. Look at the irony involved that state is reeling under worse power crisis. It appears laptops provided by this government get recharged by darkness! The same money spent on laptops, tablets and etc. could have been diverted to improve the infrastructure involved in production of power. It’s no secret that most power houses operating in state are operating with help of worn out machinery. However, you can’t expect such measures from a government run by unethical minds.
Allahabad, most important city after Lucknow, which is on paper getting 21 hours power supply, is facing huge power crisis. Let’s take into cognizance working of one of the power substations operating in Allahabad, which is home of eminent intellectuals, bureaucrats, writers, poets, judges and journalists. One example is suffice to have idea of how the system is operating under this government’s rule. Kareli power house, an important substation, which supplies power to Kareli and other adjoining areas like Bhavapur, is in total disarray because of its incompetent officials and poor management. It’s now very clear that may be in Mayawati’s regime there were huge scams at ministerial level, the bureaucratic machinery still remained under awe of strict punishment in case of non performance of duty. Under this regime absence of such threat of getting punishment has led to lawlessness and haughtiness on part of officials.
The Kareli substation under Maywati’s regime was one of the best substations operating in the city having a smooth supply in both Hindu and Muslim colonies, even in peak hours during some important festivals like Dussehara or Eid. A telephone was always there to register the complaint of aggrieved consumers and the fault was dealt with in a conscious time bound manner. The same substation is now working in most shabby manner. The employees stationed here are rude while dealing with consumers besides being incompetent. They are not bothered as to how to ensure smooth power supply. Many linemen/technicians on condition of anonymity stated that there is nobody to check huge power theft in this area. As a result of this power theft as many as 20 transformers have blasted in one single month. The staff operating at power houses often gets beaten at the hands of angry public. Prima facie one always blames citizens for such display of violence and angry reactions but if we delve deeper into the cause of mob violence one would realize that ordinary citizens are not that guilty.
For instance at Kareli substation during some critical faults there is no one present to register the complaints of consumers. There is also no telephone, and thus, one living at a distance has to travel many kilometers to reach this substation. Imagine the state of the mind of such consumer if he/she finds that gates are locked from outside during working hours! If the same consumer tries to contact with higher officials over telephone, the officers at the other end don’t give much importance to his/her problems. So what options do power house officials leave for aggrieved consumers other than to react violently? Bhavapur area which is major Hindu colony having distinguished citizens faced 18 hours power failure for two consecutive days which included Dussehara day. Can one imagine the level of collective anger of such residents?
Most of the areas, falling under this substation, for past one and half months are facing huge power cuts. Earlier it was informed that feeders were being changed along with replacement of incoming panel. The residents of this area kept quiet but people lost their cool when even after removal of major faults the areas like Bhavapur, Nihalpur and etc. remained dark for more than 10 or 12 hours at a stretch while the adjoining Muslim areas like Akbarpur remained above such power cuts! The whole Navaratri celebrations along with tableau exhibition was marred by absolute darkness. In fact, this substation is working in a dangerous way too. That’s because no employee of higher rank is placed at this substation. As a result of that staff which is comprised of linemen and few technicians are either missing in night schedule or if that’s not the case they are involved in drinking of beer. Just few weeks ago, a lineman involved in repairing work at Kareli substation in inebriated state suffered serious injuries.
This government has failed to realize that citizens are not impressed by populist measures. To win their hearts the government needs to improve the functioning of public administration. What prevented it to improve the quality of services provided by government bodies? Instead of doing that it’s engaged in divisive policies, which involve huge wastage of taxpayer’s money. It’s time for the electorate to realize that during voting it’s better to have in their view right aspects instead of being swayed by flawed populists measures of parties devoid of vision and sound principles.
Distributing laptops when the whole state is reeling under total darkness! The same taxpayers’ money could have been used to improve power supply.
Pics Credit:
Vindhya Hills Haunted By Rocks, Rivers,Temples And Super Souls (Yogis) (Photo Story Part II)
The terrific response which the part one of the travelogue generated really overwhelmed me. It confirmed the sentiment that travelogues, loaded with good photos, leave an everlasting impression on all the sections of people, no matter to which nation they belong.
Photographs are like time machine since the flight of imagination, after viewing them, transcends the normal course of time to move either backward or even forward in an unusual way. They record the present moment for the posterity. That’s why the same photograph viewed at a later stage tells a different story to each viewer. That’s one of the reason why I am pretty conscious when I am dealing with camera. I was sad that I did not use a good camera, but in the aftermath, I felt happy that somehow I managed to get real good pictures.
The part two of this travelogue has awesome views of Siddhnath Ki Dari, a place one kilometer away from Shakteshgarh Fort; glimpses of landscape around that place; images of ancient Goddess Durga temple and images of Ganges flowing by the side of Chunar Fort. Although Part II of the travelogue unleashes some personal sentiments, it nevertheless never misses to create an universal appeal.
Like to inform the readers that Siddhanath Ki Dari is a place known for its huge waterfall, which comes alive in rainy season. However, it belonged to a Yogi (saint) named Siddhanath who in ancient times used to meditate here. I shall not forget a hilarious incident which occurred at this place, when my friend and I were held hostage by lots of monkeys. They did no harm to us but left us only when their gang leader came to us, searched our pockets and got in possession of few mangoes which we had kept inside our pockets! The gang leader did that in a very smart fashion without harming us!
I had no time left to have the photographs of Chunar fort, which as per legends was built by the king of Ujjain Maharaja Vikramaditya in 56 B.C. for his brother Bhartihariji- a great yogi who took samadhi inside the fort! The fort later came to be associated with Babar, Humayun, Shershah Suri, Akbar, and finally it came under the rule of Britishers. Warren Hastings, the first Governor-General of Bengal, came to take refuge here for quite some time. It’s a matter of pride for me that my mother’s residence is adjacent to this fort situated on the banks of Ganges.
The Path Might Be In Bad Shape But The Spirit To Move Ahead Remains Intact!
Try Walking On It Barefoot!
Stones Also Have Life 🙂
Beautiful, Isn’t It?
Water At The Base Of These Ancient Rocks At Sidhhanath Ki Dari!
At This Spot A Group Of Monkeys Snatched Our Mangoes. One Of The Robbers Can Be Seen Here 🙂
Siddhnath Ki Dari Is Associated With Great Yogi Siddhanathji. Hope He Found My Gestures Fitting!
Such Scenes Possess The Soul!
These Rocks Come Alive In Rainy Season…For Me Even Now They Looked Great 🙂
Rocks And Blooming Flowers!
Preferring The Company Of Rocks Over Insensitive Human Beings!
These Ancient Rocks Touched My Soul And Made Me Smile!
A Lonely Path!
Rock What Do You Seem To Preach?
Finally Found Someone To Lean Against 🙂
Sitting On The Track For The Right Reason 😛
Railway Tracks Make Me So Excited. I don’t know why! Anyway, That’s Route Of Train Leaving For Chopan From Chunar. Trains Like Swarna Jayanati, CCM And Moori Express Run On This Beautiful Hilly Route!
My Friend Wajir Who Helped Me A Lot During This Trip. He Just Could Not Click An Ideal Image Of Mine On These Tracks. However, I Got A Picture Perfect Of His, Which Also Highlights The Beauty Of Rail Tracks So Well!
In My Hindi Language I Would Have Said: Geet Gaya Pattharo Ne 🙂
My Friend Was Really Worried That Someone Does Not Come To Steal The Petrol! So As Soon As He Got An Opportunity He Rushed To Check The Petrol Level. Oil Matters ..Ha..ha…ha… 😛 😛 😛
Now It’s Time To Bid Adieu To These Fascinating Turns…But Will Love To Move Again And Again On These Routes!
Awesome!
The Dusty Roads 🙂
Even In Peru I Can See The Walls Constructed That Way!
But You Would Not Discover Such Cute Huts In Any Other Nation 🙂
It’s Hard To Believe That Priyanka Can Dare To Roam In Such Wild Places 🙂 Anyway, I Admire The Guts Of Priyanka To Open A Photo Studio In This Jungle 😛 😛 😛
Lovely Hills…
A Cycle Repairing Shop On This Mountainous Route!
The Turns Always Fascinate Me 🙂
Trees By The Side Of Road: The Mute Spectators!
The Ancient Goddess Durga Temple In Chunar Amid Vindhya Hills!
It’s Full Of Distance Visitors!
The Landscape Around This Temple
That’s The Entrance – The Mata’s Dvar 🙂
The Way That Leads To The Temple !
Don’t Be Confused! That’s Not The Prasada Offered At The Temple! It’s Delicious Makuni Ki Litti Which Was Being Sold At Dhaba Close To The Temple. I Ate One Piece And Found It Tasty. Well, this is prepared by filling the flour with stuff called Setua and then fried in the oil. Then it’s served with mashed potato mixed with other items like tomato etc.
That’s The Tulsi Plant At My Mother’s Residence At Chunar
Notice The Building Made Of Stones…The Way Stone Has Been Arranged On The Walls Reminds Me Of The Walls That I Noticed In Peru’s Ancient Heritage Sites!
The Place Intimately Associated With Me During My Childhood…Now It Lies In Tatters….I Remember In My Childhood The Place Was Full Of Lively People! The Owners Left This Place And Now It’s An Abandoned Place!
Really Sad That My Mother’s Place Which Was Once Upon A Time Such A Terrific Place Is Now In Such A State!
That’s The Courtyard Which In Our Childhood Was Site Of Naughtiest Activities Even In Scorching Summer!
The Building Has Collapsed But Pillars Are Intact. Anyway, The Small Space You Notice Behind The Pillars Was Used By Us To Play Indoor Games In Childhood!
The Better View Of The Place Reserved For Indoor Games!
One Would Find Hard To Imagine That In Such A Small Space Two Groups Of People, Four Persons In One Group, Were Always Involved In Playing Cards! I Was Also One Of The Member 😛 😛 😛
The Dangerous Stairs…As A Kid I Fell Down From These Stairs Many Times..However, Except Minor Bruises I Never Got Hurt Badly..That’s Was The Case With Other Kids Too 😛 😛 😛
That’s The Eden Garden Of My Childhood…I Played Many Great Innings Here On This Pitch….Anyway, That’s The Front Portion Of Mother’s Residence 🙂
The Post Match Discussions Always Took Place On These Two Rectangle Shaped Stones 😛
View Of Ganges From Roof Top Of My Mother’s Residence 🙂
That’s The Great Chunar Fort As Seen From Roof Top Of My Mother’s Residence 🙂
The Muddy Path That Leads To Ghat Of Ganges!
That’s The Panoramic View Of Chunar Fort From The Ghat Of Ganges At My Mother’s Residence!
That’s The Ghat Of Ganges!
The View Of Ganges And The Fort!
The Usual Activities At Ghats 😛
Jai Ganga Maiyya….May Your Blessing Always Work Wonders In My Life 🙂
Panacea For The Soul!
I hope They Do Not Catch Dolphins Found In Ganges!
The Entrance Of The Lord Shiva Temple Loacted At This Ghat…A Temple That’s Closely Associated With My Childhood…I Used To Sit Here For Hours Alone Or With Other Kids…
The Cute Nandi- The Bull So Dear To Lord Shiva!
My Million Salutations To Lord Shiva!
That’s The Way I Also Used To Sit Here At This Temple For Hours!
Thanks To Lord Shiva That Even Today Also I Found An Opportunity To Sit At The Same Place 🙂 🙂 🙂
My Tryst With Vindhya Mountains: An Interaction With Breathtaking Beauty Of Deep Jungles! ( A Photo Story)
Writing is a hugely taxing affair, especially if you are doing it in unfavourable conditions. I always meet tough resistance from so many forces during penning of important posts. That makes it imperative for creative souls to venture into isolated corners away from the maddening world. That not only refreshes them but also tunes their mind to receive new insights. No wonder when writing affair starts turning into a routine affair, instead of being a source of joy, I take a short break and get lost in unheard corners of mother earth. Usually, I visit my village and mother’s original residence since both these places being set against great scenic backdrop offer solace needed by my soul.
However, this time I decided to move into valleys formed by Vindhya Mountains. “The Vindhya Range (Sanskrit: विन्ध्य) is a range of older rounded mountains and hills in the west-central Indian subcontinent, which geographically separates the Indian subcontinent into northern India (the Indo-Gangetic plain) and Southern India.”
I came to visit Shakteshgarh, located in Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh, nineteen kilometers away from Chunar, which is mainly known for Swami Adgadanandji’s Aashrama. He is a well known saint in this area, who has penned a commentary on Srimad Bhagvad Geeta known as “Yathartha Geeta”. The localites informed me that a visit during the monsoon period is more appropriate since gorgeous waterfalls falling in these region come alive at that point of time. Anyway, I found that even during the odd period, the places like Siddhanath Ki Dari, one kilometer away from Shakteshgarh, which encaptures the the charm and the seduction of a huge waterfall, appear so breathtaking.
During the end of this very beautiful and memorable journey into awesome valleys, full of mystic appeal, I came to capture beautiful images of Ganges flowing by the side of Chunar fort, adjacent to my mother’s residence in Chunar. Over all, the visit really uplifted my sagging spirit. For my readers, I have captured this beautiful images from not so good camera, yet I feel they would come to realize photographic sense is not dependent on a costly camera! You need mind’s eye and not a very costly camera to click a good image! I hope they also come to realize that India is really so beautiful that we need not to venture outside the nation to trace real beauty. The area I visited was haunted by Naxal terror, yet in the end only divine beauty prevailed in form of ancient temples like Durga Temple and etc.
That’s The Beautiful Road Which Connects Chunar With Shakteshgarh!
A Road To Silence
Miles To Go!
Beautiful Vindhya Hills
Truly Elegant
The Horizion!
A Road To Somewhere!
The Energetic Hut 🙂
Also Met With These Pretty Cows 🙂
And Here Arrives The Cowboy-The Gwala 🙂
The Local Khajur Tree
This Peepal Tree Was Quite Impressive!
A tree that made me get lost into introspection!
The Road To Shakteshgarh Fort!
The Main Gate Of Shakteshgarh Fort!
Marble Steps 🙂
Lovely Roses Inside The Fort!
The Saint’s Temple Inside The Fort!
Divinity!
Swami Adgadanandji!
Almost All The Mango Trees Inside The Fort Tempted Me!
Myself Inside The Fort!
Where are my lovely friends?
The Shloka from Srimad Bhagvad Geeta points out types of devotees engaged in bond with Lord: Aarta, Arthaarthi, Jigyasu and Gyani!
Green and Glorious OM 🙂
Mangoes Ripened..Yum..Yum 😛
My Friend Vajir Who Provided Me Great Support During This Trip! Also Clicked Some Real Good Images Of Mine 🙂
Kathal ( Jackfruit) Inside The Fort 🙂
It’s Me 😛
Feeling The Royalty Inside The Fort!
A Grand Statue Of Rhinoceros Outside The Fort!
Spotted This Strange Fruit Inside The Fort! No Clue Regarding Its Real Name But Someone Called It Bael Fruit (Aegle marmelos)
Fallen In Love With This Cute Elephant 😛
Who will not love to have lion’s share with this lion?
Black is beautiful…Say The Crows 🙂
Great Landscape Environs The Fort!
Texture Of The Soil!
The Instant Impact Of Visiting A Saint’s Residence 🙂
Dawn Of Realization 😛 😛 😛
Thanks To Lord’s Grace That I Can Look Back At My Past With Sense Of Deep Satisfaction!
Train On This Route Must Be Offering Great Sightseeing!
Life’s Turns Are Like Curves On Road!
Eyes Will Never Forget Such Beautiful Scenes!
Let’s My Association With Vindhya Mountains Remain Intact Forever!
Indian Democracy: Governed By The Contradictions, And Not By The Will Of People!
RIP Kargil Saheed Capt. Amit Bhardwaj.
The Indian democracy is said to be governed by the will of people. It’s not the entire truth. In reality, it’s governed by chosen contradictions. They make us sad, frustrated and gloomy. This time I would not enter into any sort of complicated analysis. Just presenting two news items side-by-side. That would be suffice to make Indians realize that not all is well with this country. The first news item is related with Saheed Capt. Amit Bhardwaj’s birth anniversary. The second news item is related with murder of a Deputy Superintendent of police, Zia ul Haq in Deoria, in Uttar Pradesh.
By means of contrast I wish to know are our soldiers sacrificing their lives for such rulers who appear to be no better than murderers? And secondly, do our citizens, which include judges and bureaucrats too, have no other option other than to live under shadow of such criminals posing as rulers? Anyway, RIP Kargil Saheed Capt. Amit Bhardwaj/Zia ul Haq. We shall always remain indebted to your glorious sacrifice. And for such rulers, it’s better that they get punished instead of making an attempt to define their worth.
Now the mother of all questions: If that’s the fate of high ranked police officials, how can the judiciary expect a common man to act as whistle blower? Any answers?
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Capt. Amit Bhardwaj was leading the reinforcement column of 35 men when they were ambushed en route by Pakistani soldiers armed with light & medium weaponry. With the help of Havildar Rajbir Singh, he decided to divert the attention of the enemy & ordered his Second-in-Command to get the men out of the battle area. The two gallant men were killed, the others survived, though all were wounded. Capt. Bharadwaj saved nearly 30 of his men and killed more than 10 infiltrators, though he himself was hit twice fighting till the last breath. His body lay in deep valley of Himalayas, till it was retrieved on July 13, 1999. The bodies of Captain Bhardwaj and Havildar Singh 57 days later.
Respect
Jai Hind
Source: “Remembering Kargil Shaheed Capt. Amit Bhardwaj on his 41st Birth Anniversary”
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“I demand that the Chief Minister come here and resolve this issue. I demand Raja Bhaiya be subject to a police investigation, and the CBI should also intervene. If the CM does not come here I will not bury my husband. He will have to come or I will commit suicide…….He was under a lot of pressure. He was constantly being threatened and didn’t want to stay here. If justice is not served then I will go to Akhilesh Yadav’s house and kill myself,” ( Wife of murdered police officer)
And who is Raja Bhaiyya? A ruling Minister in UP’s present government against whom 48 criminal cases are pending.
“But this is not the first time that Raja Bhaiya is finding himself under scrutiny for death of a policeman. In 2007, DSP Ram Shiromani Pandey, the investigating officer in the POTA case against Raja Bhaiya, died in a road accident on the eve of his approaching the Allahabad high court seeking action against him. Questions were raised, but nothing could be proven and Raja Bhaiya remained as powerful as ever.”
If that’s the fate of high ranked police officials, how can the judiciary expect a common man to act as whistle blower? Any answers?
Source Links:
Akhilesh leaves for Deoria to meet murdered DSP’s family
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Pics Credit:
Indowaves's Blog 
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