Ganga Arti – Banaras Diaries
The consciousness in Banaras is focussed on two events – Sunrise – when it is time to do the Sunrise Arti, and Sunset – when it is time to do … Continue reading
A Visit to The Golden Temple – Amritsar
One cannot go to Punjab and not go to the Golden Temple in Amritsar….A few photos
A Textile Lover’s Dream
7am As I struggled to walk barefoot at 15 degrees Centigrade on even colder marble floors – suddenly I see this vision: An unopened pile of textiles …who knows what … Continue reading
Walking on Water – The Zanskar Chadar
Come winter and the roads in the Himalayas are closed. But, as a way of compensation, the rivers freeze and create a path for those who must travel. Many villages … Continue reading
The City of Benaras
“Yeh Benaras Hai” Literally it means “This is Banaras” but the tone included pride and an assurance – a way of saying “Don’t worry – it’s okay – this is … Continue reading
Daily Art Fix – Lontar Baskets
“There is no limit to creativity” – these cliched words come alive with these palm leaf baskets that have been decorated with beads … When the first artist created this … Continue reading
Side Effects of Religion
With the world slowly going crazy and the use of religion as a platform to justify it all, it is natural that there are discussions everywhere on this provocative subject. … Continue reading
A Temple Lies Locked
Many temples are run by trusts. Trusts that are made up of people. Sometimes people disagree. And fight. And over time, with the addition of ego and the passage of … Continue reading
A Temple of Miracles in the Desert – Tanot Mata Mandir
Locals believe that it was the Goddess Tanot Mata that prevented the bombs from exploding in a war a few decades ago. And the Goddess became famous beyond the local … Continue reading
Wovensouls ‘Vanishing Cultures’ Exhibition Highlights | Art Photo Print “Worship”
Fine Art Photo Print Presented by The Esplanade, Singapore in the “Sounds of Shanti’ series in an exhibition in 2013. Now available for acquisition at Vanishing Cultures. ‘Vanishing Cultures’ An … Continue reading
The Magnificent 11th Century Lamayuru Monastery – A photoessay
The Monastery Student Monks doing their laundry. And finally an invitation to lunch of Rajam & Rice with the student monks! Food for the Soul, Food for the … Continue reading
The Sacred Art of Mata Ni Pachedi
An article published on Jozan.net on Aug 21st, 2013. Please click below to view the article. The Sacred Art of Mata Ni Pachedi jm Aug 21, 2013
Praying in a Hong Kong Temple
A shore excursion took me to this famous Buddhist Temple in Hong Kong. Since I live in Singapore, my attitude was one of ‘been-there-done-that’. The building the architecture, the nestling … Continue reading
Street Shrines of Orissa
Just a small photoessay of pictures from Orissa (Bhubanehswar | Cuttack | Konark) to supplement the Street Shrines of India blog article. Back to Kalinga Diaries jm May 2013
The Stylish Priests at Jagannath Temple
Who said that men’s fashion has to be bland and boring? Jagannath temple in Puri is one of the 4 important pilgrimage spots for any Hindu. The temple is old … Continue reading
18th / 19th Century Yao Painted scrolls, North Vietnam
Art. A subject that seems enticing, mysterious as well as ambiguous. An area where it is hard to be sure of oneself especially with respect to valuation. When I look … Continue reading
Miniature Thangkas from Mongolia
Devotional Art – art that arises out of worship and devotion – produces some of the most spectacular works the world has seen. Sufi music is an example and so … Continue reading
A chance encounter with a Shaman Priest during a sacrifice ritual
Rural Arunachal Pradesh, Dec 2011 This was an encounter that took me by surprise and swept me off my feet! When I think back, it is difficult to imagine the … Continue reading
Breathtaking Mural Paintings of Sikkim Monasteries
The images need no supporting words… Just a small preface …all images were taken inside a large hall lit only by a few butter lamps. I have not used a … Continue reading
Street Shrines of India
The Gods are everywhere – literally. In busy Bombay, in parts where its working class real people live, almost every street has a wayside shrine. A holy tree or an … Continue reading
The Dhunuchi Dance at Durga Puja
I first experienced this dance through one of the most beautiful Hindi films of this decade – Parineeta. This dance is performed at the Durga Puja – a hindu festival … Continue reading
