Anita Gokhale's Terrace

Delhi is full of places which are open to everyone--people who live here, people who are visiting from other parts of the country and people who are visiting from other parts of the globe. However, there are a few places, beautiful sanctuaries if you will, open only to a select few. My aunt, Anita Gokhale, has managed to create such a sanctuary for her family and her thousands of friends on her terrace. 

Going to her terrace garden to witness it in full bloom is a spring ritual. We welcome the colours on her terrace and in our lives every year by spending a fun-filled afternoon sipping tea and munching on delicious snacks made by her. Then we linger on to spend the evening with friends, sharing more delicious food and drinks while watching the stars in the sky and inhaling the aroma of the beautiful flowers that adorn her beautiful garden. 

This year I went specially to click photographs one afternoon so that I could share her passion for flowers with you.   

A big thanks to Anita aunty for working so hard to ensure all her family and friends enjoy the fragrances and beauty of these amazing flowers. You all will notice that she herself is as beautiful as the flowers she so painstakingly tends to. She is the one, standing on the right, wearing a beautiful smile in the last photo. The lady in the left is my mom. And she sure is always happy to be with Anita aunty. The presence of flowers and the sun makes it all the more special.

The complete view

Cornered

The pink flower bed

Blues, what blues?

Standing out

Saying something

The swing

Even the setting sun shines to honour the beauty

Bright as the sun

Folds

The bar

The source of light

The colour purple

Open

Friends and flowers

Sorry, I was supposed to do this post sometime in February. However things, in hindsight not that important, kept me away. This is my way of bringing the cool spring breeze into your lives :)

Spreading the Warmth

As most of you know, my mother spent close to 6 months of this year in Jaipur undergoing treatment for cancer. Not one to rest and laze around, she along with my aaji (maternal grandmother) and my mami (maternal uncle's wife) she made close to 10 sweaters to gift to the children of our friends and family. Here are some of my favourites.


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Volcanic Sunset

My mother's surgery was successful. Thanks once again for all your prayers. Unfortunately, I did not get much time with my camera when I was in Jaipur. Maybe next time I'll be able to bring some clicks for you from the Pink City.

Here are two of my favourite photographs from my trip to Mussoorrie.

Mussoorie #2

A few months ago, I had requested all of you to pray for my mother, who is fighting cancer. I would like to tell you that your prayers have worked and her operation was successful. She has crossed half the mark and now only three more chemo-therapies are left before she returns home.

As I get toasted in the heat of Jaipur, Rajasthan, I can't help but miss the wonderful evenings spent in Mussoorie just a couple of weeks ago. Here are some of my photos from that trip. Hope to bring some photographs from Jaipur next and then get back to pursuing my first love--Delhi.

Please Pray

My mother has been recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer stage three. She is now in Jaipur, with my mama, where she is undergoing chemotherapy and will later undergo surgery.Please pray for her quick recovery.

Smiles

My mother and brother sharing a joke.

Two smiles that I truly treasure :-)

Delhi Photo Diary In Race for the 2008 Indibloggies Award

PLEASE

Vote for Delhi Photo Diary in the 15th category by clicking this link http://multivote.sparklit.com/web_poll.spark/21900

My mother calls me every afternoon at around 2:30 pm. It is a daily ritual, which even my colleagues have come to let go unnoticed. The conversation is standard.

Mom: Hello!
Me Hi!
Mom: Hows the day been so far?
Me: Ok!
Mom: Had your lunch?
Me: Yup It was very tasty.
Mom: Anything else?
Me: Nope. See you in the evening.

Today, however, she called and without the customary hello, went on to say, you have been nominated for an award. I always dreamed of winning the Noble Peace Prize but with US President Barack Obama winning this year's honours I had given up hope. My mom's excited tone brought me back to reality and I made a serious attempt to comprehend what she was saying.
Mom: I am sending you the link. Delhi Photo Diary has been nominated to win the Best Indi Photo blog at the 2008 Indibloggies. Go and see.


Me: Ok! Are you sure?
Mom: GO!
Me: YIPEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

Colleagues: WHAT???!!!

To cut the long story short: Delhi Photo Diary has been nominated and the final phase is public poll. This means that all of you, who have over the past year and a half visited the blog, returned and passed it on to others, have the option of voting for it.

Delhi Photo Diary is my attempt to capture my city through my mobile phone camera. :-)

I loathe narcissism, but I approve of vanity.

This is my mom after a session in the beauty parlour. I liked her curled look and thought of sharing the back of her head with all of you.