Goan Folk Art – Tulsi Pots
Goa is known for its beaches …but over the years its numerous hidden attractions have revealed themselves to me, slowly, one at a time, ensuring that I remain in love … Continue reading
Panaji to Sindhudurg Sea Fort and back
If you are considering going to Sindhudurg Sea Fort, you’d look at the map, find Sindhudurg on it and then head for it….but that would be a mistake! If you … Continue reading
Beautiful People – the Eunuch community of Bombay
Eunuchs have been mentioned in the Mahabharata, in tales from the Mughal times and from ancient China. In all of these they played a role in royal and noble homes. … 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
Thumbuakar Tribal Group, Borneo
What a delightful and soul satisfying find this has been!! Gorgeous humans, gorgeous textiles and topping all that – gorgeous performance art! Bamboo dance, fire dance – in which they … Continue reading
The Dragon Dance
A set of photos on the dragon dance. The dragon chasing the pearl shows that the dragon is continually in the pursuit of wisdom. Every unique formation has a name … Continue reading
The magnificent Lion Dance
The boys performing these feats are not professionals. They are students or young working adults who also perform the lion dance… The main performers of a team are the dancers. … Continue reading
Janmashtami Festival in Mumbai
On Krishna’s birthday this folk festival brings the whole mega city together – mainly to watch the human pyramids, and to dance to the accompanying bands in the Mumbai monsoons! … Continue reading
A Cup of Tea with Nomads of Kutch
This trip in early 2006 marked the start of my solo travelling life. A novice solo traveller a bit nervous, but as usual serendipity helped me along….. Armed with terrible … Continue reading
Ajrakh Block Print Art
This is a photoessay on the art of block printing called ‘Ajrakh’. The process described here, is the same for any block print art. The speciality of Ajrakh is that … Continue reading
Hmong Batik Art
The Hmong are one of the hilltribes living in Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. One of signatures of this group is their Batik Art used in their garments. The following photos … Continue reading
Kissing a Bengal Tiger
If Webster needed examples from the real world to explain the word ‘inappropriate’ – the names of two tigers I met and cuddled, Sticky Rice and Spicy Sausage would be … Continue reading
The Ajrakh Artists
2006 – my first solo trip. To Bhuj and the surrounding villages in Kutch. Among the many splendours of the area is the village of Ajrakh – known for its … Continue reading
Lifestyle of Hilltribes of Northern Thailand
Following is an excerpt from an article I wrote for Jozan.net. ‘Textiles, costumes & dress codes have played an integral role as announcers of significant life events, in some cultures … Continue reading
Travelling Godmen – the Spiritual Healers of India
Travelling Godmen are wanderers that travel from village to village, restricting themselves to a particular geographical area (usually dictated by the language). They sell spirituality and its benefits in different … Continue reading
Newari Wood Art
I am ashamed now of my ignorance of that entire Himalayan region that houses a rainbow spectrum of historic cultures – that have left so many pieces of art & … Continue reading
Lives of Others – The Bicycle Tourists
2007. Tibet – at a location just outside Lhasa. A short climb up a hill to a monastery. Quiet place – left alone by tourists. After many stops along the … Continue reading
Magnetised
Battling in the river waves, struggling to stay afloat, suspending all thought, emptied of all emotion, being physically overwhelmed by the muddy monsoon rapids, with the consciousness registering just the … Continue reading
Pashupatinath – celebration & sorrow
Dusk at the Bagmati river behind Pashupatinath temple. Pre-monsoon clouds. Steep steps going up from the river on the opposite side of the river to worship platforms. Lower cremation platforms … Continue reading
