The Delhi we know today had its foundations laid in A.D.1191-92 when Mohammed Ghori of Ghazni in central- east Afghanistan defeated Prithviraj Chauhan, the last Hindu monarch to rule Delhi. He entrusted Qutbuddin Aibak, his slave general, as administrator of this newly acquired territory. And the first task he set out to do was building the Quwwat- ul-Islam, or the [...]
A character sketch of Delhi is made up of a thousand heads. And they all jostle on a dynamic canvas. In the process, some pop off while others rush in to take their place. For every old one making way, many new ones come in, thus increasing the tribe. Each has multiple expressions, depending on your point of view. It’s a work of art, [...]
What is in a name? A lot if it is a matter of identity and history. Leading to the toponymy of the city being full of mythological and historical theories. Earlier travellers to India including the two Greek travellers Nearchus and Megasthenese, Fah Hian and the great Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsiang, who visited India in 5th century A.D., never mentioned a city which may [...]
Club Kunzum and Geck & Co Adventurers, bring you a chance to explore the natural beauty of the forest cover the capital once boasted of, but only exists in tiny pockets scattered around the city now. Quietly tucked away, Asola wildlife sanctuary is one such haven that few Delhiites know about. Join us for a day hike on Sunday, April [...]
Chand Nizami, Shadab Nizami and their group of Qawwals have a special gift from God, or Allah. When the start singing their Qawwalis, the gathered audience cannot help but losing themselves in the melodies. They perform daily at Nizamuddin Dargah from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. and then again from 9:00 – 10:30 p.m. in the courtyard under the open skies. [...]
Symmetrical designs, kaleidoscopic in nature, dominate the front face of beautifully preserved Steam Engines at the National Rail Museum located at Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. A great place to learn and view India’s Railway Legacy. Makes a great family outing. [This post was contributed by Vijay Ramanathan - a Technology/Gadget enthusiast and Blogger. You can follow his tweets at http://twitter.com/tekdude & [...]
This photo was taken near Jama Masjid in the Chandni Chowk area of Old Delhi. It was taken during Ramadan (Ramzan) when shops are open almost all night. Click on the image for a larger view.
Jalebis are a popular dessert in north India – they are deep fried, sweetened, high calorie, finger licking and best had hot. However, you also get an unsweetened like seen here sold mostly during Ramadan (Ramzan) in Old Delhi. It is had by adding to a glass of hot milk with sugar in it. Click on image for a larger [...]
This image of Panna Lal, the Paan Seller was taken near Jama Masjid at the corner of Dariba Kalan in the Chandni Chowk area of Old Delhi. Paan is a digestive made from betel leaf (seen floating in water in bucket) with other ingredients added to state. Some of these are seen in the image. Panna Lal sits with his [...]
Any celebration in India has to be accompanied with food. Period. Everything else is incidental. Take the Dussehra celebrations in Subhash Park, also known as Parade Ground, located across the road from Red Fort in Old Delhi. Venue of the biggest Ramlila, stage performances based on Ramayana depicting the life of Hindu Lord Rama, you will find food stalls galore. [...]
Would you like to participate in any of the excellent heritage walks conducted by INTACH’s Delhi Chapter in October 2009? Here is a calendar for the month – if you really want to know the city, then we suggest you do sign up too.
The actors in the Dussehra procession have no fancy green rooms with teams of make-up and costume artists. They set up base in a modest guest house in Cycle Market in Old Delhi, and a single person gets to work on them. This make-up artist is Shyam Sharma who single-handedly gets nearly 50 actors ready within a few hours. And [...]
I used to go to watch the Dussehra procession in Old Delhi as child; I must have last gone 25-30 years back. And when I went back this year, I could not help drawing comparisons between the versions I remember and the one I currently witnessed. Here are some key differences: Click on any image for a larger view The [...]
Who are the actors and organizers participating in the Dussehra processions? And what motivates them to be a part of it? Click on any image for a larger view For one, most of them are not professional actors. They are students, businessmen and professionals who stop whatever they are doing for a fortnight to be a part of the festivities. [...]
No other festival in India is celebrated the way Dussehra is. It is celebrated in most parts of the country, and stretches to 10-12 days. You can witness stage performances of Ramayana, the story of Hindu God Rama, fairs, special prayer sessions and burning of the effigy of Ravana, the demon king slayed by Lord Rama. But few people know [...]
The holy month of Ramadan is the time when beggars can laugh all the way to their piggy banks. The benevolence of people draws not only beggars to come to old Delhi, but also makes some people to switch to this profession temporarily. Click on any image for a larger view Take the case of Salim who hits the market [...]
When you walk with a camera, people automatically tend to ask you the newspaper or channel you represent. And many will try to find a place in your frame for a shot at two minutes of fame. Click on the image for a larger view While a feel-good is the usual motivation to seek the spotlights for most, Samir Khan [...]
If you are up even before dawn in Delhi, you may want to go for a run along the city’s many green belts. Or you could pay a visit to India’s biggest wholesale flower market in Connaught Place, the main commercial and shopping district in the centre of the capital of the country. First question: Why early morning? Because it [...]
Islam established its first formal foothold in India when a mosque was constructed in what is known as the the Qutab Minar complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in the Mehrauli area of New Delhi. And as a sign of centuries of turmoil to follow, 27 Hindu and Jain temples were demolished to provide the materials and space for [...]
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