Queer Pride Parade '09

The turnout was not as large, colorful or exciting as one would have hoped. However, it is a start. This is the Queer Pride Parade at the Connaught Place. Nearly a hundred people had turned out for the event which had more photographers than participants. There was a significant number of foreigners and several college students among the parading crowd.

Horn Please

The trucks across India are a decorated affair. I spotted this green one on the road recently. The bright colours are sure to make one smile even on a Monday. One thing common on all the trucks is the sign saying Horn Please.

Water Coolers

This is a stack of empty water coolers that I spotted in one of the market areas recently. Supplying cool water to shopkeepers during summers is a thriving business across Delhi. These containers are filled with chilled water and dropped to the market every morning. The shopkeepers leave the empty containers to be collected each morning by the water supplier. The bills for the service are cleared at the end of the month.

Regal

Once the favourite joint of writers, artists, journalists, Regal today has been reduced to a cinema that shows B-grade Hindi movies or raunchy English cinema (as the posters will testify). In its heyday, the cinema found mention in the stories of the greats like Ruskin Bond. But today, parents have started warning their children to keep away from even the periphery of the cinema hall. However, it still is a landmark and directions around the Connaught Place are given with Regal as reference point.

Weighty Issues

This is certainly not one of my best friends. But the lights and the colors have always attracted me to the public weighing machines. As a child, I always pestered my mother to give me a one rupee coin to check my weight on the machine. The thrill of seeing that little cardboard card coming out of the machine's mouth continues to be unmatched.

Boundary Wall, Agrasen Ki Baoli

I truly believe that Delhi is one of the very few cities across the world, where you can spot a part of history in the centre of the urban hub. This is the boundary wall of the Agrasen Ki Baoli (Baoli is well) in the heart of Connaught Place. I could not go inside since the caretaker had decided to call it a day and locked the gates and left for his home at just 3 in the afternoon, although his time to leave is at 5 30 in the evening. Anyhow, not one to give up easily, I will try to make it to the baoli some other day, soon. For now I bring to you the boundary wall.

Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot. - Charlie Chaplin

A man, dressed as one of the greatest actors of all time - Charlie Chaplin, on the streets of Karol Bagh market, promoting a mall that was inaugurated just a few days ago. Accompanying him is a small boy, who earns his livelihood by polishing boots. The good thing about the man was that he was not just trying to cajole shoppers into the mall but was also entertaining poor children, who I am pretty sure have never had the chance to see any of Mr Chaplin's comedies about the Tramp.

Do Not Touch

As is my wont, I was clicking this sign standing next to one of Delhi's monument. Just then over my shoulder, a cynical voice belonging to a teenager said, "What's the point? Delhi has so many illiterates, they will not be able to make sense of this sign. And the so called educated will use their literary skills to pen rubbish like, 'Tina Loves Suresh'". Before I could react, he vanished.

Hopefully, not to leave his signature for posterity on the walls of history.

Jaypee Siddharth, East Patel Nagar

This is the Jaypee Siddharth Hotel in Patel Nagar. As a child I always thought that this was monstrously huge building but as I gre up, the hotel seemed to shrink. It continues to be one of the places where I have made fond memories of spending time with one of my childhood friend and her family. She even got married here.

North Block, Raisina Hill

This is the North Block, which houses the Ministry of Finance and the Home Ministry. It sits pretty on the right of the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the President's office, on the Raisina Hill. Infested by monkeys and I am not referring to politicians, this beautiful building built by the Britishers as the seat of power, continues to house the government after more than 60 years of India's independence.

When in doubt look upwards!

"When in doubt look upwards!", My teacher in kindergarten used to say. Her words, I had then thought meant to look at her as she was seemed very tall to me then. Later, we realised she meant to look towards the heaven (traditionally it is supposed to be at a height, I am told). But I took the saying to another level, as I was trying to pick up a photo for today. This is the Delhi sky (in sepia tones) as of yesterday evening at 6. We had some rains yesterday. Thankfully they brought the temperatures down but today the resulting humidity is not getting us Delhiites in a better mood. Hope the rain comes again. Soon

Chandelier

This is a chandelier I spotted in the main hall of the India Islamic Cultural Centre, on a recent trip to the venue to catch a play. The artistry in the place is spellbinding. Unfortunately, they are not too kind to photographers and I managed to get this photo on a sly after a lot of sneakiness. Despite all my efforts, I did win a snide from one of the social butterflies (dressed in an expensive designer garb), who was attending the play for the cause of poor children.

I Am Back

Well, back to business of capturing Delhi, I thought the best photo would be of my favourite and often repeated on the blog - India Gate. However, this time the angle is a little different.

Shimla

After my one day stop in Jabalpur, I along with my brother, Akshat, took to the opposite direction and headed north to the hill station called Shimla. Here is Akshat on board the Shimla Toy Train.



Akshat and I had a fabulous time, getting our photos clicked, talking to strangers, site seeing and sipping coffee at cafes. Of all these things we enjoyed getting our photos clicked the most.



We did a lot of touristy stuff like getting a photo with a Yak



and dressing up in the native attire.



It was a much needed break and now I am back with a bang... So keep coming for Delhi photos on the blog. :-)

Delhi Visits Jabalpur

I have a photo bonanza lined up for you. I though with the theme day and my birthday (I am still open to wishes and compliments) over, it was time to give an update of my 10 day long vacation.

First I had gone to Jabalpur, a city in Madhya Pradesh, the central state of India. My grandmother lives there and the family had gathered to celebrate her 75th birthday. Here she is wearing the saari I chose. :-)



Here she is surrounded by her grandchildren. The young lady is blue is my Mama,maternal uncle's daughter -Prasha-, with her brother -Ansh- knelling in front of her. On the other side, my brother- Akshat and I have taken the position for the photo op.



Most of us were traveling from Delhi to Jabalpur. We went to the waterfalls at the Marble Rocks with a bunch of cousins and had a blast.






Coming up Shimla.

Happy Birthday To Me :-)

Today is my 26th Birthday and I thought to treat you all with the photo of a cake. I am not being partial, as the photo is all I get too. :-)

This is me at 26, I don't think I look too bad (fishing for complements here, please be GENEROUS :D)

Theme Day: Feet: On The Dance Floor

These are two of my best friends a day before they got married. Kanchan and Kshiteej gave a beautiful salsa performance on the eve of their wedding.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants