Photography

                                                                                    Manersharif                         While on assignment in Bihar I was going to Arrah from Patna and in this way I was crossing Maner which is about 25 Kms west of Patna on NH 933, there is a nondescript Quila(Tomb) of Sah Maqdum Sah which   was built in 1619 is called Maner Sharif which is a block of Patna.   So I turned my vehicle towards Maner Quila. During ancient period Patna known...

                                   Hirni Waterfalls                             Once I was going to Chaibasa to cover some stories for my magazine, I was on the driving wheel and the road which I had taken had very less traffic lot of   twists and turns and covered by high Sal trees and greeneries all over like deep jungle. With me three more staffs of my office were accompanying. After travelling about 75 Kms on Ranchi- Chaibasa road deep into the jungle at one sharp turn I found a sign board written Please stop for Hirni Waterfall. So just out of curiosity I stopped the vehicle and we all got down and spent some relaxing moments and stretched our bodies and went near the waterfall which was v...

  Ghaghari Dham Waterfalls                         One fine morning a programmed was set to visit Ghaghari Dham waterfalls   by the JPA (Jharkhand Photographic Association) on the occasion of   World Photography Day. So it was an outing as well as photo walk. Ghaghari   is about 50 Kms south of Ranchi. It falls under Lapung Block, with its headquarter in Ranchi. From state capital Ranchi one has to go to Bedo which is famous for great vegetable market and from there 16 Kms road goes to deep into the jungle to reach Ghaghari which is famous for Shiva temple and Sai Baba Temple. So the people gets double benefit of visiting both the temple at one goes.                         First of all we went to Sai Baba temple where the atmosphere was...

  Pelicans Feeding                         I use to see regularly a huge bird in white, sailing in the sky very cool, calm, smoothly and noiselessly, if they pass besides you, you can’t hear their any snoise and surprised to see their splendid flying pattern. So I came to know from my son that those are called Pelicans and there is a feeding point of Pelicans near Sydney about 1 hr train journey and from there 1 hr by bus. So one day we went to see that live phenomena. We took a train from Hemilton station and dropped at Woy Woy and from there we caught a bus and reached thereby at 11:30 Am. I saw lot of large birds flying around in groups and their activities attracting people. As we reached very early there, I came to know that the feeding time is 3:30 PM, so just to pass the time we also moved around the beautiful suburb and in the amusement park.   ...

  Barabar Caves                    Long time back I was in Gaya and covering some stories, then I came to know that there is an ancient surviving rock caves about 75 Kms South of Patna. So one day I chalked out a programmed to visit that unique rocks and set out for the same. While reaching there I found to my dismay after seeing the unique rock caves formations just near the Falgu River. While moving around I came to know that there are four caves— 1.       Karan Chaupar, 2.       Lomas Rishi 3.       Sudama and the 4.       Vishwakarma                         A unique caves built by cutting a single rock during Maurya period is of 3 rd Century A.D. The oldest surviving ro...

  Cycling                          One fine holiday while we were picnicking at a park at Islington in New South Wales in Australia, I saw a cute little girl cycling to and fro before us attracted my attention, so I just went nearby her and tried to snap few shots and after few attempts I got the telling shot. Cycling is slow travelling and popular sport. The Government in Australia encourages cycling among the denizens and people also abide by the government rule. I saw most of the people going to their respective working place by cycle on putting inside trains and ferries. Also saw my son to going to his office by cycle and asked him about his attires which he was wearing was not proper for the office. He cleared my doubt that one set of cloths most of the staff use to keep in their respective office. As there is proper dress code and helmet is must for cycling. ...

                                                                               Honey Bees                          Honey bees are insects it has importance due to its collecting honey from the pollens of flowers which is a staple and very nutritious diet for human being. This insect has five eyes, as it comes under insect category so it has six legs. The bees are of three categories. Queen bee which is a little oversize and bright in look is the only bee that is surrounded and protected by the tho...

  The Jugglers                 While in Australia one day a programmed was set to see a hilly place Kutumba, about 150 Kms, about three hr drives from Sydney, which comes under Adelaide in South Australia and is famous for handicraft and ethical trade where one can find plethora of unique collection of locally made handcrafted items.                          As soon as we reached there we hit the inclement weather causing low visibility, whatever I saw is the place is surrounded by very beautiful and colorful flowers. In fact we had gone there to see the blue mountain but we were not so lucky on that note. Seeing the condition of the weather so it was decided to move around city in the car and that idea worked well. Its ups and downs roads and lanes adding extra dimensions to the place. The ...

                                                                       Sleeping Angel                         While sojourning in Patna at my brother’s house during pink winter I noticed that a four weeks old infant sleeping before me was frowning her face showing irritations as the harshly sun rays was directly hitting her face and she was feeling uncomfortable. Also due to harsh light deep shadows were created on her chicks and nose, so I asked the family members to bring a white cleaned Dhoti to cover her face, but rather covering her...

  Nelson Bay, Australia While in Australia one day a programmed was set to visit Nelson Bay a very beautiful and salubrious place about one hr drives from New Castle and 3hr from Sydney. So it was decided that we will have picnic there, and on the way Sunny bought some picnicking materials from Coles super market. On way he was saying that come papa we will do barbeque there and I was surprised that how can it would be done? I just curiously asked how these will be cooked and got answer nothing to worry about Pappa everything will be done. After   reaching there I find to my dismay to see the place, it was so beautiful, all the lanes by lanes were kept so nicely and neatly ,with beautiful small houses, hills and deep blue sea were adding more attraction of the place. So firstly it was decided to go up to the hill first from there deep blue sea surrounded by small hills   were adding more colors, we spent about 45 minutes there shot some beautiful landscapes and came bac...

  Darling Harbour, Sydney              About two hrs journeys is Sydney from Newcastle where I was living, so off and on I use to visit Sydney and move around the beautiful city of Australia. Especially on Sunday when ticket price is just slashed to 2&1/2 Dollars. Opel card is like ATM card there is available everywhere there for travelling by Trains, light trains Buses, steamers, so most of the people of nearby Sydney use to folk with their families in Sydney and enjoy the atmosphere of the happening city, which is famous for waterfront restaurants, Bars, amusement parks for children and lot of entertaining programmers are going on round the clock.             For enjoying all this one has to go to Darling Harbor the area which is bubbling with full life, youth fullness and entertainments, just by taking a train to Circular Quay three station away from Sydney Centr...

  Haldi Ceremoney                         Haldi ceremony is a pious ritual which is celebrated just a day just before the marriage respectively in bride’s and groom’s house separately. In haldi ceremony a rich golden paste of turmeric is applied on the bride and groom’s skins and after that ceremonial bath is done to both of them at their respective places. It’s like a mini Holi festival so all the closest family members, relatives and friends use to take part in it in yellow attires and it’s free for all to smear Haldi paste(Ubtan or Pithi), which is made with the mixture of turmeric, sandal wood, rosewater and other auspicious ingredients   to each other faces and skins in a very cheerful way.             There are believes in countryside as well as in the cities that Haldi works to ward off evil spirit ...

  Golden Hours                         Once I was in Patna, the capital of Bihar. As I had gone there after a long gap, so I became mesmerized to see the metamorphic changes the city had. When I left Patna about 22 Years back it was a bleak say slender city but nowadays that it became the city of flyovers with wide roads but the population of the city increased manifold and lot of buildings have came up in haphazard way causing many inconveniences to people.                         At the same time a beautiful marine drive of 15 Kms on the Ganga from Naubatpur to Gaya Ghat near Patna City came up giving much relief from congested traffic of the denizens of the city, is also attracting and fetching much crowed in the evening like Chaupati of Mumbai, as...

  Blue Mountain                    W hile searching some files . I suddenly came across few pictures which I shot long back, in Australia, where I had gone to meet my son and was there for about four months, he, spared sometimes from his official duties and was able   to show me almost half of that country by driving me all the way in his car by making   family trips. My eyes were wide open to see the lusciousness of that country, its surroundings and pristine landscapes.          The population of that country is 2.51 crores only, and its size is almost three times bigger than our country, so think the vast differences as, I seldom find overcrowded places or public transports. Footpaths are meant for pedestrians only and you can’t find any hawkers to make the road narrow. So in this way one of Sunny’s friend who live in Sydney had gone somewher...

  Litti Chokha                         Litti Chokha is a staple diet and very popular cuisine in Western Bihar’s Bhojpur region, are made of wheat flour after making it salty and its dough stuffed with gram powder (Sattu) mixed with other spicy ingredients and in it, made in round shape of apple size and served with Ghee and mashed potato, egg plants, tomato, green chillis and with light mix of lemon juice. So, it is two types of meal, 1 st is Litti and the other is Chokha. It resemble with Churma Dal Bati of Rajasthan, but in Bati   is not stuffed like Litti of Bihar.             In ancient period this diet was mostly relished by farmers and peasants in deep into the villages of Bhojpur region of Indian state of Bihar. But their making process is completely different by nowadays urbanized people. They u...

                                   Kiama Blow Hole                      While sojourning in Sydney with my family a programme was set to visit Kiama a beautiful seaside town on the NSW South Coast, is about 3 hrs drive from Sydney, famous for Blow Hole, so one day we hit the road for the same, while on way we crossed through deep jungle met with hailstorm, I was scared a little bit but also enjoying the drive. Sunny was on the wheel as he resides there since long so he was knowing all the tricks of driving on Australian highways. So far driving is concern that country is very tough regarding its rules. Highway speed set at 110 Kms/ hr and speed camera and other traffic signals are fitted all over, so flouting it will may fetch you great wr...