Holi, the festival of colours

started with Lath mar in Barsana in the state of Uttar Pradesh on the 17th march. Tens of thousand of people gather in this little village (9 500 people) to celebrate holi.Legend has it that Lord Krishna was visiting his beloved Radha, who lived in Barsana, on this day and he was teasing her and her friends. The women found this offensive and chased him away. Ever since, the men from Krishna’s village, Nandgaon play/celebrate holi this way together with the women from Barsana……I knew that I would get water and colours thrown at,on me so I started out by totally covering my camera in plastic bags since I didn’t have any raincover for it. Not easy to handle after that but, Oh so neccessary!

 

DSC_8320

DSC_8270

DSC_8361

DSC_8523

DSC_8394

 

DSC_8252

DSC_8447

DSC_8212

DSC_8175

DSC_8198

 I was very colourful when I jumped into the car to go home, but first I had a little detour…I visited the men preparing themselves in Nandgaon….so stay tuned for part two of Holi…and for all of you interested…the colour washed out..almost all anyway…I just have some new pink highlights !!

Narrow alleys, old and blessed houses

is what I found in a village out in the rural areas…things might look old but …1961 around here is and looks old, when talking about houses that is.

DSC_7727

DSC_7719

DSC_7713

DSC_7724

DSC_7943DSC_7945

colourful India

What village does this daughter come from?

 asked this old man when I stopped and clicked some pictures of him enjoying his afternoon smoke on his hookah

DSC_6940

DSC_6946

           ….my driver told him that I come from the foreign village …..

Performers/Dancers

at the Arts and Craft museum in Delhi. This is one of my favourite places to go whenever we have visitors. Vendors and performers together with all the exhibitions at the museum and a really good cafe’/lunch place inside makes this a must to do thing when in Delhi.

DSC_3262

DSC_3285

DSC_3283

DSC_3292

amazing…I couldn’t take my eyes of their makeup and decorations.

Please try this next time

you walk home from the store.

I wouldn’t start out with eggs though….maybe something soft like bread?

or why not try this

DSC_6889

next time you have some garbage you need to carry to the recycling unit?

An abandoned Haveli caught my eye.

I’m not sure if it really is a Haveli, maybe just an old house but it must have been so beautiful way back when someone lived here. I met the family who lived across the street and they told me that it was a very wealthy family who once lived here but they disappeared and ever since it has been abandoned. I just had to have a look ..want to join me?

DSC_7603

the carvings where just gorgeous.the woman from across the street followed me in and was really interested in getting a camera.Well, she actually wanted to buy mine…..for nothing. I had to tell her that I don’t sell my “chhotee bebee” , my  small baby. That didn’t scare her off though.

DSC_7616

looked like a bird cage but slightly big bars, don’t you think?  I also spotted a hoopoe, some sort of Indian woodpecker .

DSC_7624

I stepped inside and found this courtyard…wow, this could have been so cool.Imagine it  with some palm trees and other green plants and a fountain…and no cow dung on top of the roof bars !!! too bad it was too dark to show you the rooms behind the doors…

DSC_7622

DSC_7625

I just had to get a picture of the family … pretty cool picture from an abandoned old Haveli.

 

A mustard field filled with beauty.

today I had the most wonderful encounter in a mustard field in a village in the rural areas of Gurgaon. It’s harvest time so they where out cutting the mustard by hand with their reapers…

DSC_7889

as soon as I stepped into that field and said “Namaste” they welcomed me to have a look and to help out.

DSC_7898

lovely ladies working in the field

DSC_7922

this young lady couldn’t believe that I wanted to get pictures of her

DSC_7904

she was so shy

DSC_7916

such a  beautiful young woman…look at that smile…made my day !

DSC_7920

they where such lovely and giggly young Indian women.I’m so happy that I stepped out into that field.It’s these encounters that fills my heart. India at it’s best.Colourful encounters that I will never forget.

Having a moment

under a tree in the shade right next to his tractors is what this happy guy is enjoying….something we all should allow us once in a while.

DSC_7436

DSC_7434

doesn’t look that comfy but I find people resting in the most uncomfortable and strange  places around here.

enjoy your cozy Friday …I’ll have to wait until tomorrow and have a cozy Saturday instead.

Street life in Gurgaon

today on my way home from work I stopped and clicked some pictures of the street life.it’s always vibrant and filled with colour

I didn’t notice the guy inside the estate hut until I had shot some pictures….hope he was sleeping…

DSC_7451

DSC_7456

how does he fit in there?

DSC_7468

they sure do a good job at displaying the veggies don’t you think?

 

an ironing family working next door to the veggie stand

DSC_7478

heavy irons filled with coal !

Monday morning mindfulness

DSC_6894

DSC_0491