For more intricate photos, visit the Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge – Intricate
Tag: photo
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The lately-early bird
It took me a full week to try to get up early. And this morning, I finally managed to get up by 6 am. Unfortunately, in these parts of the world, six is well past sunrise. Still, I tried. Although the next challenge is already in motion (bad pun, I know), I wanted to share this picture of the sleeping hibiscus in our balcony.
She was still half asleep, rubbing her groggy eyes and taking a big lazy yawn, when I saw her. It would be another three hours before she would be in full bloom. By the time I see her next, she would have moved on to another world, never to be seen again — until she takes a new birth, and opens her wide eyes and gives her best smile, to brighten up someone’s day.
To see more genuine early birds out there, visit the Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge
On our way back from the road trip in Tamil Nadu, we passed by many water bodies – ponds, lakes, rivers, the sea.
Here’s a shot I captured from the moving car. It didn’t look particularly good, until my brother edited it 🙂 Check out his photostream here.
For more floating images, check out the Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge
This week, I learnt a new word, thanks to the Weekly Photo Challenge.
Ephemeral:
adjective
1. Lasting for a very short time.
It was a delicious cupcake. I wish I had taken a picture of it. But before the thought even occurred to me, I had gulped it down. Here are some crumbs, before the paper was hastily discarded!
Other Ephemeral pictures here: Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge
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Fresh Fruits
Check out other responses to this ‘Fresh’ Weekly Photo Challenge
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Resolutions
I was desperate to get some rest, but sleep was the one thing that refused to come. Random thoughts and visions haunted me, interspersed with summons, as they were, directed towards me — by whom, I don’t know. I tossed and turned in the middle of the night, till I could take it no longer. And then I wrote this.
Read: Know and understand other people’s points of view. Interact often with fellow bloggers and chroniclers of the world.
Write: Share your world view. Even if it is going to be just you who reads it.
Draw: Complete the picture and fill it with colours of your choice.
Sing: Find your own voice and express yourself.
Jump: Make decisions and take that leap of faith.
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Expressions of Faith
We were on our way to the Vaitheeswaran Temple, when we decided to take a short detour. The magnificent gopuram* of the ancient temple was visible from afar, and it was on an impulse, that we decided to visit the Chidambaram temple.
Opposite the entrance stood an intricately carved wooden structure, being prepared, perhaps, for the grand pooja which was to take place only two days after our visit. A long row of shops – selling flowers, pooja items, idols of Gods, colourful kolam powders and filter coffee – lined either side of the path leading up the entrance. We deposited our slippers with one of the shoe-caretakers (for lack of a better word), and stepped inside.
Beautiful kolams greeted us, followed by the grand gopuram which we had seen from afar. There were more gopurams inside the premises. Hundreds of devotees had come, mostly in crowded buses, from different parts of the country. We followed the crowd.
After a long walk from the entrance, we entered the main shrine. Devotees who were closer to the sanctum sanctorum, bent over the railings; those who were behind, stood on their toes; children sat on shoulders of their fathers, all of them waiting to get a glimpse of Nataraja, the lord of dance. As the curtain was pulled apart, temple bells and folded palms filled the shrine.
This ancient temple, spread over 40 acres, is one of the largest temples in the world (fourth largest, to be precise)**. Intricate sculptures of deities atop the gopurams, stone panels depicting dance postures, halls with high ceilings, all supported by massive pillars embellished with floral detailing. With several shrines and tanks, the temple priest told us, it would take one full day to properly visit the temple complex. An hour, was hardly going to be sufficient to soak in the magnificence and grandeur of the temple.
Every year Bharatanatyam dancers converge in this temple during the annual festival to worship, their offerings in the form of dance. I can only wonder what that atmosphere would be like. Hopefully I will visit the temple once again. And on that day, I will spend more than just an hour.
More Expressions here: Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge : Express Yourself
* Gopuram is a monumental tower, usually ornate, at the entrance of any temple, especially in Southern India. This forms a prominent feature of Koils, Hindu temples of the Dravidian style. They are topped by the kalasam, a bulbous stone finial. (Source: Wikipedia)
** The three largest temples are, in order, Angkor Wat, Cambodia; The Srirangam Temple, Trichy, Tamil Nadu: Akshardham, Delhi, India (Source)
Further Information on the Chidambaram temple: Chidambaram Temple on Wikipedia
Every time we go to Chennai, we make it a point to visit the beach as many times as possible. Our last trip was no different.
We visited the beach mostly in the morning, when it was empty. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore, the softness of the moist sand between the toes and the pleasant sea breeze worked together to create magic.
The water was cold and I was quite content walking beside the waves. The sea, though, seemed to have other plans!
For more serene imagery, check out The Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Serenity
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Do not disturb!
It’s a cold winter morning. The blanket is cozy and you hate to come out of the warmth. You take a look at the clock and think to yourself, ‘just five more minutes.’
This street dog reminded me of my own reluctance to get out of bed in the morning!
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Break Time!
It’s that time of the year again, when we worship the Goddess of Learning, Saraswati. Submitting all our study material to the feet of the deity, we take a little break ourselves*.
Wishing you a very happy Gandhi Jayanthi, Navratri, and Vijay Dasami!
* Find out more here.
Musings of an eccentric mind 