Come away with the raggle taggle gypsy-o
Zoomorphic,one of Paula’s five words for Thursday’s challenge
having the form of an animal
of, relating to, or being a deity conceived of in animal form or with animal attributes
Hanuman, the Hindu monkey god, is one of the most revered figures in the religion. Here are three that I found in northern India.
I love Paula’s magical propagating tree. Welcome back Paula.
Amber PalaceLast night I watched treasures of the Indus and was inspired to look for an image of India for my March Square. This is a ceiling in the Amber palace, Jaipur.
I often say this of India, I wish I could go back with a better camera and slightly improved skills.
Twelve days left to join Becky’s square challenge!
Happy Mother’s Day!
This is a section of a huge silver door, I believe to a temple, in Bikaner, Rajasthan.
A square full of squares for Becky’s March challenge, have a great day everyone!
Amer or Amber Fort just north of Jaipur in India, is a splendid fortress on Cheel Ka Teela, the hill of eagles.
The fort was built by ‘Raja Shri Maan Singh JI Saheb’ (Maan Singh 1), from 1550 to 1614, from red and white sandstone. The palace can be approached by taking an elephant ride up the ramparts, but this wasn’t for me, because I love elephants.
Amer has a mix of Rajput and Mughal influences and there is much to see.
It’s best known for the Sheesh Mahal, Hall of mirrors, a sight I’ve never forgot.
One of the stunning views from the palace’
Amer is hugely popular for tourists, and a World Heritage Site, said to be the most beautiful palace in India. Don’t miss it if you go to Rajasthan!
October 2005, I find myself in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. It’s early evening and I’ve just had one of the most moving experiences of my life. The elderly lady in the photo below has hugged me, put a red bindi on my forehead, and entered the temple I’ve just left.
I’d seen an Aarti ceremony in the Rani Sati temple, after the congregation offered puja. The temple is at least four hundred years old and was built in memory of Narayani Bai who self emolliated and became Sati Ji.
The ceremony was incredibly loud, with drums and bells reverberating through every cell in my body. Water was sprinkled around, some of the crowd ran heir hands through flames, before circling the central shrine. We were welcome to take part but there were no expectations. Caught up in the atmosphere and the heady incense, I followed, with thoughts of Rani Sati, who was beloved to be an incarnation of the goddess Durga, running through my mind.
I have no words to describe the feelings, my journal that day had a line, ‘if I have to go home tomorrow, then it’s okay because I’ve had the experience of a lifetime’.
This post is for Paula’s Traces of the Past.
This Thursday instead of Lazy Poet, I’m re-posting a poem I wrote a few years ago, for International Women’s Day. Yes I know that was yesterday, but you know me by now, the other week that I got the day wrong for wordless Wednesday, and the syllable count wrong for LP!
In Hope
Cast aside your veil
Turn your face to the sun
Gather round the hearth
Your work today is done
Your sisters draw near
Feet planted to earth
They no longer fear
The lone walk on the trail
Your children breathe free
The mountains clear air
Well nourished with plenty
And wind blown away care
Your abundance is here
Take love in your stride
Future perfect and clear
Go forward with pride
Cast aside your veil
And no longer hide
In Rajasthan, no matter how remote, the Road Taken will always have plenty of these.
Whether you travel the road on a bike, car, a camel or cow cart, you will find shops with fizzy pop, snacks and a public call office.
A haveli is a townhouse or mansion, a traditional style found in India, Pakistan and Nepal. Build with an inner courtyard space, rather like the riads found in Morocco, but with a more attractive exterior. There are very many in Rajasthan, particularly the Shekhawati area. It’s possible to stay in a haveli, some have been converted in hotels and guest houses. Like a riad, they would be a calm haven shut away from the bustle of the towns.
This one wasn’t a hotel unfortunately, but it was possible to look around and they also sold antiques, some very expensive and some accessibly priced.
Homes like this aren’t created in a hurry, they have to develop their ambience over time, don’t you think?
. . . I was in India.
When I first heard of the city of Jaisalmer I was entranced, it seemed to me to be at the end of the world. The golden city is dominated by the fort, a living, vibrant place that has a life of its own, hanging on the edge of the far west of India.
It’s a very commercial town, everywhere you turn someone is trying to persuade you that you need spices you’ve never heard of, saris, wall hangings, ornaments of all types. I expect it’s even more touristy now. But that doesn’t spoil it’s charm, the twists and turns of each cow inhabited alley, gets under your skin and even deeper into your nostrils.
There are several Jain temples, with finely detailed interiors, and a plethora of Buddhas.
The stoneware is so beautiful it’s hard to know where to look.
But there are quiet spots to reflect,
And sculpture to wonder at,
Haveli’s are mansion houses of the wealthy. While some in Rajasthan are dilapidated, many are well maintained and open to the public for a few hundred rupees. This one was a museum come antique shop, I think pretty much everything was for sale at a price, even though it was also a home.
In time for sunset, we went just outside the town to see the fort change colour, by day it’s the colour of a lion, but at sunset it turns to a honey gold.
Although the sunset was disappointing, traveling friend and I were happy to be all dressed up in our finery, in the most mesmerising city at the end of the world.
Jaisalmer is around 800 kilometeres from Delhi, and it can be reached by train, an overnight journey. Better still, try a slow journey and stop along the way. Rajasthan is wonderful and the people are warm and friendly, who are justifiably proud of their heritage.
If you’re like me, living in the upper reaches of the Northern Hemisphere, this is the season where we seek out small pleasures to compensate for the short days and chilly weather: fireplaces, down comforters, hot chocolate (or glühwein, if we must…).
Says Ben Huberman for this weeks challenge at the Daily Post, Warmth. The Thar Desert is without doubt the warmest place I’ve ever been, in a midday temperature of 44 degrees, I was hot and happy, even though it felt like the inside of my nose was burning. Dry heat seems to agree with me, here are some photos of my favourite kind of warmth.
Visit https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/warmth/ to join in.
