TweetIf you are in love, or want to make any wishes for your future life, head to Chiang Mai a few days before the full moon night of the 12th lunar month – usually falling in November. And participate in one of the most beautiful of festivals of lanterns, lights and floats.
TweetOpen publication – Free publishing – More airlines The 5th edition of the Kunzum Travel Mag dated November 2011 is here. As before, it takes a refreshing approach to travel writing, it goes with you in your gadgets, and it’s FREE. Travels will never be same again.
Tweet High quality, archival prints of this image are for sale. Ordering info is given at the end of the post.
TweetLadakh is great to visit any time of the year, and more so when any of its Buddhist festivals are taking place. Each of them are worth attending – from the big ones at Hemis monastery to the lesser known ones. Here is a calendar for the years 2011 – 13 so you can plan trips around these. But do [...]
TweetIt’s festival time: at the Valliyoorkavu temple on the outskirts of Mananthavady in Wayanad in Kerala. And I have Suresh Babu, a former BSF employee, to thank for alerting me to it. I happened to be around on the last day of the 14-day annual festival attended by tribal folk from surrounding areas. It would a long night of prayers, [...]
Tweet For the second year running, I was on the road on Holi, the festival of colours. The previous year I was driving through Assam and Arunachal Pradesh – and in Gokarna this time. Holi is not a big festival in the south – it is not even a compulsory holiday here unlike the north where everything is closed. I [...]
TweetSome rate Gokarna as the Pushkar of the south – where western backpackers and latest versions of hippies come seeking spiritual peace by getting a high. If you are looking for those ‘flower power’ crowds, you will be disappointed. What you have is a wound-down version of the 1960s. Small groups, fully coherent. The shacks on its beaches serving seafood [...]
Tweet [View more photos on Facebook even if you are not a member] Along with the Hill Miris and Apatanis, the Nyishis are one of the main tribes of the Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh. And like others, they too have their annual festivals. The main one is ‘Nyokum Yullo’ which I was lucky to witness in Boasimla, a [...]
Tweet Change is all around us. And it is permeating even the remote and lesser developed regions of the world. If you are going to Arunachal Pradesh and expecting its ethnic population to be walking the streets in their traditional tribal dresses and accessories, be prepared to be disappointed. Most of them are dressed in casual clothes, functional and comfortable. [...]
Tweet The Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu is generally regarded by Hindus as the most sacred of all temples devoted to Lord Shiva. Thousands of devotees visit the site every day from Nepal, India and other parts of the world. And on a special day like Shivratri, it is a sight to behold. I was lucky to be in Kathmandu when [...]
TweetEven when sin is for sale, there are no taboos in invoking the Gods to close a deal. Here is the not so surprising part: Walking around in Thamel in Kathmandu after sunset, I had a few boys come up to me and whispering if I would like to smoke hash. No thank you I said. And then one came [...]
Tweet These photos were taken in Kohima in Nagaland in December 2009 during the Hornbill Festival. Every evening, the main market would close and the streets given out to those who set up stalls to sell food, gifts and more. These included youngsters out to make pocket money, business, NGOs and some church bodies. All in all, great fun to [...]
Tweet This set of photos were taken at the Maha Kumbh Mela (fair) at Haridwar, a once-in-12-year event. The 2010 edition started on January 14 to end on April 28. This photo was taken on January 15. Click on any image for a larger view. It is an occasion for Hindus to come to Haridwar and take a dip / [...]
Tweet I have just returned from the north-eastern state of Nagaland, for long a state affected by political violence and underdevelopment. Even before I left, friends and family expressed concerns over my decision to explore this volatile region. The usual expression was, Why Nagaland? I could not answer this before I left, but now I can. For starters, safety is [...]
Tweet 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.
Tweet This shot of Buddhist nuns was captured during the annual festival of the Hemis Monastery in Ladakh. Click on the image for a larger view. You can view and order more such images at the Kunzum Gallery.
Tweet This photograph of the masked dancer was taken at the annual festival of the Hemis Monastery in Ladakh. It has also been selected for a permanent display at the Museum of Cannes, France. Click on the image for a larger view. You can view and order more such images at the Kunzum Gallery.
TweetAny 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. [...]
TweetThe 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 [...]
TweetI 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 [...]
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