BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Atlanta, Georgia - January 27, 2014

It seems that, even 7000 miles from India, that country I love remains part of my 

life.  During my visit to Atlanta last week, my friend, Camilla Arthur, took me to

see my mother.  Leaving Lawrenceville, she insisted we make a stop in 

Lilburn to visit an incredible Hindu temple that absolutely took my breath away.

It was bitterly cold so we did not do an inside tour but drove about the perimeter,

in awe, marveling at its beauty.

A mandir is a Hindu place of worship - a center of cultural, spiritual, and social 

life - a place of peace.  The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir opened in August,

2007 - the result of 1.3 million volunteer hours, built in only 17 months.  It is 

comprised of Turkish limestone, Italian marble, and Indian pink

sandstone.  More than 34, 000 pieces were handcarved in India and reconstructed

in Lilburn, a beautiful part of "the country of my heart" in the state of my birth.

To learn more about this incredible Hindu temple, visit their website at:

http://atlanta.baps.org/index.html.  It would be well worth a visit if you are in the

Atlanta, Georgia area.

Diwali 2013 - November 2, 2013

Bing image, domain free

This is the second Diwali - this year from November 3rd to November 7th - that 

I have been in India.  It is probably the major Hindu festival of the year, celebrated

by friends and family with much joy and festivity, firecrackers popping, gift giving 

and wonderful foods, traditional to this time of celebration.  Much like Christmas 

in the Christian world, it is a holiday when those far afield return to their homeland 

to be with their families to maintain traditions.  Diwali, the festival of lights, is

a joyous time, a time of rebirth, hope, and homes are filled with candles and diyas

burning oil to fill the world with brightness.

Bing image, domain free

Each of the four days of Diwali has a different legend/theme/myth, usually

dealing with the triumph of good over evil and darkness, thus the importance

and significance of light.  Diwali comes from the Sanskrit word "dipavali"

which means "row of lights" and candles and diyas are placed  everywhere in

homes and business.  Fireworks light the heavens and there is a sense of

joy everywhere.

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If you'd like to know a little more about Diwali, check out the links below.  

Happy Diwali to everyone, especially to all of my Hindu and Indian friends in India 

and elsewhere in the world.  I wish you all a happy Diwali filled with all life's blessing 

for you and those you hold dear. At this sacred time, when evil was banished and 

light overcame darkness, I am honored to once again be in India to share in this 

joyous occasion. May the goddess, Lakshmi, bring you, not only material wealth, but 

the wealth of loving family and friends and may the Lord Ganesha constantly remove 

any obstacles that come up in your life.

Bing image, domain free

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali

http://hinduism.about.com/od/diwalifestivaloflights/a/diwali.htm

I am participating in 

Sundays in My City

Monday Mellow Yellows and Orange You Glad It's Monday - Bright Yellow Sari and Bangles - September 30, 2013

Well, October 3rd is my 69th birthday and the beginning of my final two months 
in India.  Four months have gone by in a flash.  It seems fitting that my post
for today is of a lovely friend, clad in a gorgeous yellow sari, wearing bangles
and lovely jewelry and with hennaed hands.  The occasion was a special
Hindu holiday, Karva Chauth, when married women fast from sunrise to 
moonrise for the safety and longevity of their husbands.  And, no, there is
no corresponding holiday when men fast for the safety and longevity of 
their wives!!!

I am participating in

Monday Mellow Yellows

and

Mandarin Orange Monday 61

Add your yellow and orange photos to join in the fun!

Camera Critters #281 - Jaipur Cows

I just recently returned to Jaipur for five days - the lovely Pink City in Rajasthan 
where I lived for five months last year.  As always, I was amazed at all the
cows wandering about, seemingly owned by no one ( though I'm sure they 
must have a home somewhere! ).  

In India, by many, especially of the Hindu religion, cows are considered sacred
animals, "God's useful gift to mankind."  They walk wherever they wish, in busy
crowded streets and seem unafraid.  Horns do not blow at them and cars slow
and wait for them to cross streets.  It is not unusual to see them lying in the 
street or standing up on medians.

People often bring them food to eat as they forage about in search of a meal.

http://hinduism.about.com/od/vegetarianism/a/holycows.htm

http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/things/cow.htm

I am participating in 

Camera Critters #281

Add your critter photo to join in the fun!

Thursday Challenge: Hard - Keshava Temple, Somnathpura, India - July 25, 2013

During my first long visit to India, my dear blogging friend, Shiju Sugunan, 
drove me down south to see Somnathpura and Mysore.  One of these days,
I am actually going to do a blog about both of these amazing places.

I chose one of the Keshava Temple ( also known as Somnathpura Temple )
buildings for my depiction of "hard".  Though carved of soapstone, a relatively
soft material ), the surface certainly felt hard to me.  The temple, which has
endured over 700 years, is one of the finest built in the Hoyasala style.

I am participating in 

Thursday Challenge for Fun and Learning: Hard

Add your photo to join in the fun.

Monsoon Merriment - August 24, 2012

At long last, Jaipur had a torrential downpour which lasted all night and
well into the next day.  School was cancelled and my landlady had her 
two grandsons to watch over. I was at my computer, enjoying the 
downpour on the roof, listening to the happy screaming of little Vishu,
who often sits patiently with me as we search the skies for returning 
peacocks.  Today, however, fully clad, he was splashing joyfully in the 
huge puddles created by the rain.  Since there was a great "swimming 
hole" right in front of my room and I could take photos from the dry comfort 
of my porch, I called him over.  He was most obliging and I got some delightful 
shots.

Whenever I have my camera out around Vishu, he has to perform Hindu dances

for me.  He is such a character ...AND he is a pretty good dancer, wet or dry!

When he didn't have a toy boat available, Vishu was very creative and put

his shoes to good use!

Sadly, that night, Jaipur experienced massive rainfall which caused the worst

flooding since 1968 and several lives were lost.  Even with this amount of rain,

the late beginning of monsoon, has not been of much benefit to farmers who

needed water for their crops much earlier in the growing season.  However, for

animals who were dying of thirst, this brought some relief.