A section of a stone wall at Gwalior fort (Madhya Pradesh, India) has a rough texture along with the imprint of fossilized plant.
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/texture/
Related articles
Weekly Photo Challenge: Between
My daughter happily soaring in between the blue sky and grass-covered hills of Dalhousie (Himachal Pradesh).
Dalhousie a small town, named after the British Governor General in India Lord Dalhousie, was developed as summer retreat by the Britishers around five hills of state of Himachal Pradesh(India). With around 600 hotel which include private villas and bungalows, this is a favorite tourism destination. Dalhousie is between 6000 and 9000 ft above mean sea level.
Though it has many tourist attractions but we were there for only few hours and all we could manage was horse ride and para-sailing.
Related articles
The Last Day……
It is six in the morning…..a Sunday Morning. I have always lazed on other Sunday mornings but this Sunday morning is totally different. I could not sleep last night….how could I, knowing that the morning will bring along my last day…last to breathe, smell, see, touch and taste?
Today is the last day of my life !! Really? But I have hundred things to do….thousand words to say…. and zillions of moments to discover!! My two treasured possessions, eleven-year old daughter and an extremely handsome loving husband……Will they miss me? Will they remember me?
Whether they miss me or not, I have loads to do before the day ends….yes, things to do, words to say and moments to live!! I decide to write them both individual letters.
My most precious and dear daughter,
I love you a lot even though I keep pointing out your mistakes and tell you a long list of do’s and don’ts. But you see that is what mothers are like…. I point out your mistakes so that no body else can point you out as wrong. I tell you what not to do because I have made those mistakes and I want you spared of heartbreak though I know a person can best learn from mistakes. But I can not bring myself up to see you broken and disheartened…..
To be honest today I might be the one to break your little heart…..you see today is my last day and I won’t be there tomorrow to wake you up for school, cook your favorite cake, dress you up in your favorite gown, style your hair or to tuck you in bed with a big noisy kiss. So whether you hate the rules …the do’s and don’ts, here I am again with some fresh ones….
- I know you will study hard and become somebody important in society one day but DO NOT forget to enjoy the journey to success.
- I know you are compassionate and loving but DO NOT try to make each and everyone happy by suffocating your own happiness. DO NOT bend backwards for anyone to achieve something.
- IGNORE and FORGET those who hurt you…..it may not easy to forgive them but believe me such people are not worth your attention. So forgive too. World is very small….who knows when you might come face to face with those whom you hold grudge against…your anger will only hurt you not them.
- One day you will grow up and fall in love but DO NOT love to give up….commit and nurture your love yet NEVER let anybody abuse your love, faith, honor and respect.
- Making love is the most sacred and wonderful emotion…..casual sex is not. DO NOT indulge in wasting away this precious gift.
- TRAVEL, EXPLORE and widen your horizon. DO NOT let duties bog you down.
- Gossip is good to hear but dangerous to spread because it muddies the rumor-monger too. Listen and keep it to yourself and BE WARY of the person who spreads it and cautious of whom it is about.
I might not be the best example or the best teacher or the best mother there is…..but there is nobody who will be happier than me to see you succeed in all stages of life. So live, love and be happy always.
Your ever-loving
Mom
My dear loving husband,
Today is my last day…..I have been always honest and direct with you even if at times it has led to a big argument. You have been a wonderful, caring and loving partner to me and a wonderful hands-on father too. You are capable of doing everything even if I am not around yet I have few words for you too…
- You have to play my part too now…..BE mild and gentle to our daughter. She will be at a stage when she needs a woman’s ear to offload her growing up concerns….. BE that WOMAN for her. DO NOT let her be on mercy of others.
- Live your life…..
I might not be the best partner and support but my love for you has been true.
Yours ever-loving,
Wife
And I sit and cry again…..till my tears suffocate me and I feel a heaviness on my chest….I am gasping for breath…. Its only six in morning…..Do I have only this much time!!??………Suddenly a little sleepy hand lazily creeps out of sheets and clutches my thumb and another adult palm sleepily caresses my shoulder. I wake up with a start…
It was all a dream!! Oh! Thank God it was just a dream….I start crying and kissing both of my gems…… They wake up….
“Ummmm….Mamma its Sunday…why did you wake me up today?” says my daughter. My husband is more tuned in… he guesses correctly that I must have seen a bad dream. He folds me up in his arms, pats my head as if I am a little girl and lets me cuddle up resting on his chest…..
Sigh!! I have hundred things to do, a zillion moments to live and thousand words to say TODAY…. but this cozy embrace is to die for!
This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.
Related articles
Weekly Photo Challenge: Room
I spent the entire week for some “Brainy” inspiration for this theme but the time ran out and nothing really crossed my mind. I do not want to be left out for this challenge and simplest thing I could do was to upload the picture of our living room/hall.
My husband being in defense services, we get posted to different places across the country and every time I have to pack up my things and redecorate the new house at new place. The government houses that we get are always of a different layouts and sizes and it becomes a challenge to fit in things which we have collected over the years in every new house. I decorated this house with a lot of love and I know that another few months and we will wrap up here too not knowing where we will be next posted to or the house that we will get.
But, that is okay as long as we are together as family.
Related articles
- http://retirenicaragua.wordpress.com/2014/06/06/weekly-photo-challenge-theres-always-room-for-more/
- http://austindetails.me/2014/06/05/room-with-a-view/
- http://cardinalguzman.wordpress.com/2014/06/06/weekly-photo-challenge-model-in-a-hotel-room/
- http://whymatters.me/2014/06/06/weekly-photo-challenge-my-creative-room-mein-kreativer-freiraum/
- https://sarazancotti.wordpress.com/2014/06/06/weekly-photo-challenge-room/
- http://wp.me/p3gqMf-76
- http://esengasvoice.wordpress.com/2014/06/06/weekly-photo-challenge-room/
- http://retirenicaragua.wordpress.com/2014/06/06/weekly-photo-challenge-theres-always-room-for-more/
- .http://youthinkyoucanblog.com/2014/06/06/room-to-bounce/
- http://maraeastern.com/2014/06/06/weekly-photo-challenge-room/
- http://ambitiousdrifter.wordpress.com/2014/06/06/weekly-photo-challenge-room-to-relax/
- http://followyournose.me/2014/06/06/new-room/
- http://ambitiousdrifter.wordpress.com/2014/06/06/weekly-photo-challenge-room-to-relax/
- http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/room/
- http://indacampo.wordpress.com/2014/06/07/a-room-with-a-view-wp-photo-challenge/
- https://solaner.wordpress.com/2014/06/06/weekly-photo-challenge-room/
Weekly Photo Challenge: Work of Art
THE MINIATURE ART:
The state of Rajasthan, India, besides being known for its rich royal history, havelis, forts and palaces is also the home of miniature art. Mostly the miniature art depicts the royal processions, besotted royal couples, hunting expeditions, Lord Krishna’s mythological stories. Very few artists dare to create erotic art and those who do, do so in explicit details. I happened to see those paintings but since I can not upload any content which is ‘adult only’ hence I chose these miniature paintings for this photo challenge.
THE ARTIST: Mr. Kanu Swami
Mr. Kanu Swami has known fame well now. Besides creating the miniature art of animals, trees, royal processions etc. he is well-known for the erotic miniature art which he keeps under wraps and shows it off or sells only to the genuinely interested people. He says, “People don’t understand the beauty and do not let me paint in peace”. He has sold a complete set of twelve paintings titled ” Kamasutra” for INR 15000 each to an European gentleman who visited his shop within the premises of Jaisalmer Fort. Despite fame and fortune he is quite a humble artist. He though able to afford a better bigger studio/ gallery for his work, is quite happy with his small shop cum work desk.
A little of my art too:
My vanity got the better of me and I am tempted to show off a few of my art work too. 🙂 So here I am with three of my drawings too. The prompt says “Art is not just paintings or sculpture….” but I couldn’t let this opportunity go without flaunting my handiwork.
Art in the nature: The nature is full of beautiful shapes, colors, sizes of flora and fauna. If we really take out time to sit back and appreciate what the nature has to offer, we are dumbstruck by the sheer variety. I got a few leaves, flowers, grass etc framed to capture the beauty and nature’s ‘work of art‘ .
Related articles
- http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/work-of-art/
- http://myenz.com/2014/05/07/recycled-art-kids-edition/
- http://myenz.com/2014/03/09/sculpture-by-the-sea/
- http://lifeofaministermom.com/2014/05/17/weekly-photo-challenge-work-of-art/
- http://dawnblanchard.wordpress.com/2014/05/17/weekly-photography-challenge-work-of-art/
- http://giberson9.wordpress.com/2014/05/17/weekly-photo-challenge-work-of-art/
- http://sonelcorner.wordpress.com/2014/05/17/the-daily-post-challenge-work-of-art/
- http://apetcher.wordpress.com/2014/05/17/weekly-photo-challenge-work-of-art/
- http://tanzalongs.wordpress.com/2014/05/16/weekly-photo-challenge-work-of-art/
- http://shakespearesgal2.wordpress.com/2014/05/17/hawaiian-gold/
- http://inkhammer.wordpress.com/2014/05/17/weekly-photo-challenge-work-of-art/
- http://nowathome.wordpress.com/2014/05/17/work-of-art/
- http://kinga512683.wordpress.com/2014/05/17/life-in-a-blue/
कृति (Kruti: creation)
मेरी कल्पना की,
वो नन्ही चिड़िया ……
डाली डाली फुदक कर….
वापस घर को आ जाती
ऊंची शाख पर जाने को,
कितना आतुर हो जाती “मैं दाना चुग लाऊँ” कह कितना उत्साहित हो जाती मेरी कल्पना की , वो नन्ही परी…… आँखों में अनगिनत सपने लिये दूर दूर कहीं सैर कर आती सात दिशाओं में उड़ आने के, कितनी योजना बना लाती “मैं जादू की छड़ी फिराऊं” कह संसार बदलने की जुगत लगाती मेरी कल्पना में कभी , वो कली, कभी तितली बन जाती, कभी शान्त रहती ,कभी मुझसे ही लड़ जाती, कभी समझती तो ,कभी जिद पर अड़ जाती, कभी बाँहों में भरलेती ,कभी गोद मैं चढ जाती, नए अनुभवों की ड्योढ़ी पर खडी, वो मेरी चौकस नजर देख खुद निडर हो जाती वह मेरी जीती-जागती कल्पना वह मेरी सबसे प्रिय रचना…. मेरी प्रिय कृति
कितना आतुर हो जाती “मैं दाना चुग लाऊँ” कह कितना उत्साहित हो जाती मेरी कल्पना की , वो नन्ही परी…… आँखों में अनगिनत सपने लिये दूर दूर कहीं सैर कर आती सात दिशाओं में उड़ आने के, कितनी योजना बना लाती “मैं जादू की छड़ी फिराऊं” कह संसार बदलने की जुगत लगाती मेरी कल्पना में कभी , वो कली, कभी तितली बन जाती, कभी शान्त रहती ,कभी मुझसे ही लड़ जाती, कभी समझती तो ,कभी जिद पर अड़ जाती, कभी बाँहों में भरलेती ,कभी गोद मैं चढ जाती, नए अनुभवों की ड्योढ़ी पर खडी, वो मेरी चौकस नजर देख खुद निडर हो जाती वह मेरी जीती-जागती कल्पना वह मेरी सबसे प्रिय रचना…. मेरी प्रिय कृति
Kruti (also pronounced Kriti) is a Sanskrit word which means creation. It is what I named my daughter. This poem is for my daughter. She is my little bird, eager ever to explore, help around the house, my little fairy who wants to wipe out all pain and misery of the world with one swish of magic wand. She is a dreamer who plans to travel far off lands, wants to take us to places which we haven’t seen. She also fights with me, gets annoyed but senses my moods to and comforts me. When in doubt, she looks up to me and if she sees me keeping an eye out for her then she is confident that nothing bad can happen to her….that is her faith in me. She is the best of my creation….. my Kruti.
Dear Mother…..
Dear Mother, there you are on a pedestal so high…..
I could never be you, hard as I might try!!
Yes I rebelled, have never been docile……
‘Coz you see, i veil a heart so so fragile….
So what say….should we start….have a little heart to heart?
I have never remembered the specific date for mother’s or father’s day……as I do really think about my parents everyday. Ours is a volatile exchange almost always…..but that hasn’t created any bad feelings between us. I still worry and they still treat me as a two year old even though I am on threshold of forty! Once as a teenager I wrote a poem about my father….and my father had asked me then to write one for my mom too, but that time I couldn’t come up with one. I do put all virtues, the grit, determination and energy to work nonstop of my mother on a pedestal and I really mean it that I do not have that in me and I am not even half as competent as she is. This poem does not extol my mother but since the challenge was to use only five sentences about mother…..I could come up with this.
This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.
Dear Sun…..
Dear Sun,
Oh! See….
See the tender buds,
all shriveled and burnt….
like the little girls… in womb, aborted !!
See…. the young blossoms,
wilted they fall,
no one wants them….
like the innocent daughters….raped!!
marked for life….!!
See…..the cracked parched earth,
turning into barren sand…..
like the bride, for dowry abandoned!!
Yes, the erring human has turned into a demon…
raping, killing,burning….
on a rampage, without any reason..
But You…. you are the God !
you breathe life into a dying soul…
dissipator of gloom, the God of energy!
Then why…. why this scorching rage?
Why the fiery gaze?
Why have you forsaken …
Your own creation?
O!! Lord Sun to thee I implore…..
diminish your fire….
let the earth respire…
Vanquish the demons…
On innocent, spare your ire…
‘Coz we can bear no more, oh no more!!
Mercy O lord, Mercy,mercy…..
This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.
Mukhaute…
अल्हड़ हँसी को औपचारिकता के,
दायरे में सिमटते देखा है….
दुःखों के पहाड़ को मुस्कान की ,
ओट में छिपाते देखा है…
सच्चाई को सिसकते हुए, झूठ के
बोझ तले तड़पते हुए देखा है…..
ईर्ष्या को छलते हुऐ, प्रेम से ,
आघात करते देखा है…
अपना कहते हैं जो, उन्हें,
अपनों की निंदा करते देखा है…
मित्र है या शत्रु,
भेद करना कठिन है…
चेहरे पर मुखौटे लगाए ,
शत्रु को मित्रता का हाथ बढ़ाते देखा है….
मित्र को भी कभी-कभी शत्रु से हाथ मिलाते देखा है.…
दुःख तो इसका है….
कि मेरी गरीब सहजता को….
सभी को मुखौटा समझते देखा है….
और विडम्बना है कि ,
अब अपना प्रतिबिम्ब धुंधला होता दिखता है….
कि खुद को भी मुखौटे लगाते देखा है….!!
“Mukhaute” is masks and the poem says that carefree laughter is hidden behind the masks of diplomacy, pain behind smiles and truth beneath the lies. Jealousy in garb of love stabs in back, people who tell you that you are the nearest to them often are the ones who talk behind your back. It is difficult to distinguish between a friend and foe because the enemy sometimes hides behind the mask of friendship. Poem continues to say that now I cannot recognize my reflection because the society forces me to wear masks sometimes too!!
Weekly Photo Challenge : Abandoned
These are the pictures of “KULDHARA” , Rajasthan (India). The entire town was abandoned by the residents and they vanished overnight from the town in mysterious circumstances around 18th century.
The local folk-lore is that the village occupied by the Paliwal Brahmins was being harassed by king or the regional chieftain for excess taxes. The king also set his eyes on the village chief’s daughter. However the king’s reputation of being a womanizer did not make him an ideal candidate for the lovely damsel. The villagers abandoned the village in the darkest hour of the night and cursed the king. The king sent his men to find them but to no avail….they had vanished into thin air leaving all their belongings, cattle, utensils etc.
The ruins of Kuldhara suggest that it was a well planned prosperous village with wide roads running in cardinal directions and dividing the town into domestic and commercial sections with a temple(which also has been renovated to give a glimpse of the villagers’ lifestyle) in the center of town. There were step-wells and separate parking spaces for the carts. Kuldhara consisted of 84 villages and all of them just disappeared one night. The stories of the ruins being haunted also prevail. The site now under Architectural Survey of India is being developed as tourist attraction.
Kuldhara lies some 15km west of Jaisalmer, another fort city of Rajasthan. Jaisalmer is well-connected by road and rail to bigger towns like Jodhpur and Jaipur.
Also read:
http://undiscoveredindiantreasures.blogspot.in/2012/04/kuldhara-story-is-one-of-weirdest-and.html
http://www.lakshmisharath.com/2013/10/31/halloween-special-kuldhara-haunted-village-near-jaisalmer/
Shoma Abhyankar 