~ Shubho Mahalaya ~

Here is wishing Shubho Mahalaya to all my friends! Mahalaya is an auspicious occasion observed seven days before Durga Puja and heralds the advent of Durga, the goddess of supreme power. It is a kind of invitation to the mother goddess to descend on earth - "Jago Tumi Jago"! This is done traditionally through the chanting of mantras and singing devotional songs.

Unable to tolerate the tyranny of the demon king Mahisasura, the gods plead with Vishnu to annihilate the demon. The Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara (Shiva) come together to create a powerful female form with ten arms - Goddess Durga or 'Mahamaya', the Mother of the Universe who embodies the primeval source of all power. The gods then bestow upon this Supreme creation their individual blessings and weapons. Armed like a warrior, the goddess rides a lion to battle with the Mahisasura. After a fierce combat the 'Durgatinashini' is able to slay the 'Asura' king with her trident. Heaven and earth rejoice at her victory, which forms the base for celebrating "Durga Puja" festival.

|| Ya devi sarbabhuteshshu, sakti rupena sanksthita Namasteshwai Namasteshwai Namasteshwai namo namaha ||

~ Kovalam Sunset ~

It was a pleasant Feb evening. We were exiting the beach after taking a long stroll when we noticed a bunch of people entering the beach carrying their yoga mats. We were curios what they were up to! They climbed this high rock on the shore, quickly settled down and started meditating peacefully.

With sun dipping slowly into the ocean at a distance and bunch of people meditating rhythmically on the shore .. the aura of the place had "peace" and "relaxation" written all over it !

A Peaceful sunset to remember !
Kovalam, Kerala.

~ Dark Moody Evening ~

Some evenings present a perfect aura to reflect upon oneself!

"My eyes always keep searching,

something inexpressible,

above the far sky.

I long to get lost,

inside the evening-twilight.

Silence always tickles me—

in a strange way;

I meet “me”

in the time

between sunset and darkness."

~ Sabr Muz Leemah

~ Coffee and Sunset ~

Can't get a better setting than this to enjoy the evening cup of coffee !!

Distant rains and a gorgeous golden sunset with moving dark clouds reflecting the light back on the city below .. just a while ago, from my balcony!

~ Last Light ~

Last light of the day beautifully gracing Mt. Jopuno in the Kanchenjunga range of Indian Himalayas, as seen from Tshoka village.

I clicked this photograph during my trek to Goecha La in West Sikkim, India. Click here to view this picture large on black canvas!

Thai Tourism Photo Contest

Back in June, Tourism authority of Thailand (TAT) in association with Kunzum organized a photography competition based on the beautiful country of Thailand. Each participant was asked to submit 3 photographs that best depict Thailand's landscapes, culture, people, history, religion, shopping, customs, wildlife, beaches etc.

Luckily having been to Bangkok for a family vacation in 2012, I had a few photographs that beautifully depict Bangkok in these categories. So I comfortably entered the contest with three of my photographs.

Wat Pho, Bangkok

Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok

San Saeb, Bangkok

I am happy to announce that I have secured second place in the competition for my photograph of San Saeb, Bangkok and won myself a trip to Bangkok !! YAY (whistles and drum rolls) !!

Also my other entry of Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok has won myself a beautiful Tuk-Tuk model as a gift from TAT which I consider a cute little bonus !! ;-)

I am very excited now about this wonderful opportunity to return to the beautiful country of Thailand. Last time our trip was more focused towards Bangkok and now I hope to explore other beautiful places around the country and come back with more memorable moments and photographs that I can remember for a long long time :-)

I take this opportunity to thank Tourism Authority of Thailand for this wonderful opportunity and selecting me a winner for this competition!!

~ Craving for Mountains ~

A blissful morning after a stormy night!

Saruwas thatch, Himachal Pradesh, India.

Hill-people, even if they are born in flatlands, cannot be parted for long from the mountains. 

Anywhere else is exile. 

Anywhere else, the ground is too flat, the air too dense, the trees too broad-leaved for beauty. 

The colour of the light is all wrong, the sounds nothing but noise.

- The Folded Earth

~ Harmony ~

Ganesha idols stocked in front of a mosque in Hyderabad! Goes a long way to show peaceful religious coexistence and tolerance! Now that is Incredible India, isn't it?! :)

Dhoolpet, Hyderabad, India.

Kingfisher Blue Mile Challenge

Kingfisher Blue Mile challenge is back this year with a dose of real adventure this season! This time a lucky group of people will get to trek to incredible Mt.Everest Base Camp (EBC) along with kingfisher team. If you want to nominate yourself for this challenge, don't waste time, just head here.

I was lucky enough to get invited for the Hyderabad leg of this challenge that held this weekend (Aug 30-31st, 2014). There were 30 like-minded participants for the adventure camp out from Karnataka, Mumbai and Hyderabad. We had lots of fun doing various adventure activities like trekking, bouldering, rock climbing, rappelling and river crossing under expert guidance (check out this video for yourself). Thankfully weather was very supportive this weekend to enjoy all the activities. Though I am not promoted to the next level of the challenge, I am quite happy I got to be part of the adventure camp out among thousands of other applicants. Oh yes!! also got to experience what it is to party with "Kingfisher team" !! ;-) \m/ \m/

Update: More photographs from this event here.

After attending this event, it is too difficult for me not to recall my own adventures high up on those slopes when I did this trek back in 2009! In a semi frozen state and with numb fingers I sat atop Mt. Kala Patthar summit saying to myself - "Damn! yes I've made it! I've seen the majestic giant beyond the text books and photographs. I've seen it in reality and felt the numbing cold for myself!!"

My Photograph of Mt. Everest, Base camp and Khumbu Glacier 

from the summit of Kala Patthar at 18,519 ft.