Nobody knows this little Rose

Nobody knows this little Rose

It might a pilgrim be

Did I not take it from the ways

And lift it up to thee.

Only a Bee will miss it

Only a Butterfly,
Hastening from far journey

On its breast to lie

Only a Bird will wonder

Only a Breeze will sigh

Ah Little Rose -- how easy

For such as thee to die!

--- Emily Dickinson

Pic location: Garden of Five Senses, Delhi

Really, Who am I?

'I died as a mineral and became a plant,

I died as plant and rose to animal,

I died as animal and I was Man,'

~Rumi~

Location: Garden of Five senses, Delhi

A view of the courtyard!

How much I love,

looking through

these intricately carved meshes

in the balconies

of such old majestic forts.

The black-woven veil

setting me adrift

to the sati queens

and the psychedelic kings

of such old majestic forts.

Picture location: Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur

The Thar Experience - Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur

Mehrangarh Fort stands a hundred feet in splendour on a perpendicular cliff, four hundred feet above the sky line of Jodhpur. Burnished red sand stone, imposing, invincible and yet with a strange haunting beauty that beckons . Much has been written about the Citadel of the Sun, for truly, it is one of the most impressive in all Rajasthan.

Text Source: www.mehrangarh.org/
Pics: Shelly Jain

Odissi recital at Purana Quila

Location: Purana Quila, Delhi

Artistic voices

At the holy ghats of Pushkar

The Darag-e-sharif in Ajmer and more

A quick trip to Ajmer and Pushkar was not only rejuvenating but also enriching. Since this post is rather delayed, I am gonna keep the descriptions rather short and crisp.

These are shots taken at the Ana lake, an artificial lake named after Anaji Chauhan. It is the beautiful marble pavilions alongside the lake, built by Shahjahan, that enhance the overall beauty of the place. The dusking sun's golden hue added to the serenity of the place.

The 'Dargah Sharif'' is one of the most sacred Muslim shrines in the country. It is the tomb of Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti, a Sufi saint who came from Persia and devoted his life to the service and upliftment of the poor and downtrodden.

The pilgrims make rich offerings called 'nazrana' at the sacred spot where the saint has been entombed that include rose and jasmine flowers, sandalwood paste, perfumes and incense that put in to the fragrance that floats in the air inside the shrine. Outside the holy place of the Dargah, professional singers called 'qawwals' sit in groups and sing hymns in the praises of the saint. Qawwalis at the shrine and fragrance of the incense sticks together create a divine effect.

Information source: http://www.rajasthan-tourism.org/prime-attractions/dargah-sharif.html

The lane to the dargha is thronged with shops selling rose and jasmine flowers, sandalwood, incense and the chaadars that devotees offer as their nazrana inside the tomb.

Insides of the Nasiyan Jain Temple.

Dhai din ka jhonpra, the legend goes that this mosque was constructed in two and a-half days.

Diwali at SShrishti Trust

Joined the Diwali celebrations at SShrishti Trust this year. I had spent some time with a bunch of lovely kids two years ago teaching them practically nothing in the real sense but learning a lot in return:-).

Here, are a few captures of the night.