Ganesha at home

Shillu :: Ganesha in an urn in my house. I like the reflections of the plants from the balcony in the water.

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VJ ::

vakratunda mahakaya suryakoti samaprabha

nirvighnam kurumeideva sarva karyeshu sarvada
Meaning: Lord with the twisted trunk, with the brilliant radiance of a billion suns, always remove the obstacles when I am on any challenging task.

Indian dance balet - 5

A post war scene, by the way of capturing emotions, King Ashoka is made to realize that true happiness lies within the four walls not in conquering places and blood shed.

Indian dance ballet - 4

We are back after a long break. We have been extremely busy with too many events - both happy & sad. And we are back for good.

This picture highlights the performance of the dancers in the King's (Ashoka's) Court.

Enjoy more pics from the Indian dance ballet series.

Wedding celebrations

VJ & Sravani, As you begin a new life together...May you have a warm and love-filled wedded life ahead. Here's wishing you the best of your future together!

Now about the picture you see here is clicked by VJ at his Sis-in-law's wedding. One of the South Indian wedding highlights is this ritual, where the Bridegroom inserts the 'toe-ring' onto the Bride's second toe finger.

~Shillu~

Indian Dance Ballet - 3

Suryanamaskaram - is the first prayer in the day to worship the rise of Sun. Today, it is a part of our daily exercise in yoga.

Sashanka Chakram Sakeerata Kundalam Sapeeta Vastram Sarasee Ruhekshanam- Sahara Vakshasthala Kausthabham Namami Vishnum Sirasa Chaturbhujam-- the prayer

~VJ~

Indian Dance ballet-2

Shilpachaturyam :: This posture depicts the innate talent of the Shilpi (sculpture artist) during 304 BC. By way of the dance, the dance artist's portray carving and setting up the sculpture, which in this case is an entrance, also known as Dwaram. ~VJ~

Sights in "Red"

Shillu :: Decorated car on an Indian street. This is a pretty common sight here. Vehicles are decorated for special occasions like weddings, festivals etc.,. In this particular case looks like this car is decorated to carry the bride & groom post the wedding.

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VJ :: London telephone booth- must have seen it in a movies and now I present this piece of infrastructure that stands at the end of any street and connects people, who are miles apart.

Attention to details

Shillu :: 9 stone door which is a part of this temple. I love the details on it, espicially the elephants.

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VJ :: Terrace Location: The place that I called home- Paris. Fancy a nice home in the French countryside with mouth watering French cuisine coupled with sunny exteriors & tastefully done interiors. This is the terrace of one such house that I resided during my post graduation days in France. Jo, the owner, ensured that the house is clean and well maintained at all time. Her attention to detail and ability to preserve antiques is simply superb!

Heavenly sights'

Heavenly Sights' - One for the eyes, one for the palette

Shillu :: We recently celebrated an important Indian festival - Sankranthi. This is the dessert I made at home as an offering to the God & then for us. Its called Semiya Payasam or Vermicelli Kheer. Vermicelli cooked in milk, flavoured with cardamom & garnished with roasted cashews & raisins. And yeah, In case you are wondering - Yes, I love Ganesha Idols & I have loads of them.

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VJ :: Good Morning - In summer of 2007, I was in Paris doing my Post Graduation. One morning when I woke up accidentally at 5:15am, I saw this sight. What next? I caught hold of my camera and captured 'God's Creation'. Isn't it perfect?

Sankranthi Subhakankshalu

Shillu :: Sankranti is an Indian festival that is celebrated beginning of of the harvest season for the farmers. I miss celebrating this festival back in Hyderabad. Tulasi decorates the outdoors with colorful Rangoli (painting on the ground with white powder & other colors), we would all wear new clothes and visit a temple. All the kids would gather on the terrace and have a kite flying competition with the kids from our neighbourhood. In the evening my cousins and I decorate all the Bommalu (toys) in a colorful display called bommala koluvu & invite neighbours to our house.



Yesterday BK & I decorated our house with flowers and made Payasam (dessert made with rice, milk & jaggery garnished with cashews & raisins). The picture you see here is from one of the corners of our house - an urn/urli decorated with flowers & Ganesha holding an oil lamp in his hands. Sankranthi Subhakankshalu (Greetings) to you.