Sunday at the Gateway

A Sunday evening in May 2013 spent at the  Gateway of India,  in the Mumbai Harbour.  Stately old buildings, the Iconic Taj Mahal Palace and Towers Hotel, and the millions of Mumbai, who visit this area and go back with so many memories.

There is history, there is "current events", there is the sea dashing against the rocks, and the thousands who come, some to visit, some to gape, some to play, some to eat, some to earn a living, and some , like me, to click.....

The Cathedral of the Holy Name , in the Vicinity of The Gateway Of India, Mumbai.

Hope the Lord is listening to the prayers and pleas of the devotees....

The Gateway of India as it was possibly seen  in a side view, by various British royalty who arrived by sea, in the pre Independence days. It was built to commemorate the visit of King George the Vth and Queen Mary to India, in 1911. 

Today, the concourse of the Gateway, is a haven for tourists, children, vendors of touristy trinkets, and photographers who guarantee you a  keepsake photo in 10 minutes.   Some pigeons also visit, thanks to the abundance of bird food strewn around by those, who think, that like royalty, the pigeons too, must be welcomed.

With that load of balloons, he still has time to feed the pigeons. 

 Doesn't matter if you are not royalty ; the gateway is also for flag bearers who rush around in half pants  having the time of their lives.

Then there are those vendors selling soap bubble stuff at the Gateway. I bought some too, and couldn't resist clicking this .....

  And this .  Sunday evening multitudes at the Gateway of India....

The newer Towers section of the Taj Mahal Palace and Towers.  Back in its imposing avatar after the ghastly terrorist happenings of Nov 26, 2008.  The Taj faces the sea , and this is the concourse between the Gateway and the Taj. 

The actual Gateway of India viewed from Land... amidst the Sunday crowds.

The amazing structure and latticework.  The architect George Wittet designed it using a combination of Hindu and Muslim styles.  The arch is Muslim in style, while the decorations are Hindu.  Built from yellow basalt and concrete. The stone was locally sourced, while the perforated screens were brought from Gwalior .

The central dome is 48 feet (15 metres) in diameter and 83 feet (25 metres) above the ground at its highest point.

The original Taj Mahal Palace Hotel to the left, with the Towers section on the right.

The spectacular Taj Mahal Palace hotel as seen  from the Gateway of India,  approaching sunset, on a Sunday evening.  The visible frontage suffered the maximum damage in the terrorist attacks of Nov 26, 2008.  The Hotel now houses a memorial to those who lay down their lives in the course of doing their duty on that day.

Here Comes The Sun.

Living close to the Powai lake , has its advantages. You can rush to the shores in the evening to catch all the activity related to sunsets , where nature participates with all its folks.  

Just clicked these today evening , a few hours ago.  Days are getting longer , as a proper hot summer sets in and there are things happening in the garden on the banks of the lake.....

Reminds me of a cake at a birthday party, with a solitary candle . That too, a red one , in the light of the setting Sun...

Aunt Lilly,  looking on with great curiosity.....

 And the Sun, sensing my wish, simply manages to light up for this closeup.....

There are also these hanger-ons, waving amidst the crowds....

  Away to one side,  folks with Beauty on their Minds, drunk on each other....

 And the Sun, after having presided over all these lovely activities, finally decides to call it a day .....

Happy New Year .....

The first day of the first month, Chaitra, of the Indian Calendar, is celebrated all over India  , in different regional names. It is known as Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, my state. This day is considered one of the 3 most auspicious days of the year. 

It is customary to erect what is known as a Gudi in each house. This is simulation of what the citizens of Ayodhya did thousands and millions of years ago, when Lord Rama returned home victorious after defeating Ravana  in Sri Lanka, and rescuing Sita from his clutches. The citizens raised decorated silks, mango branches, flowers and sweets on rods to welcome their king. Sweets were prepared and shared with neighbors and friends. Houses were decorated.

We have a very ancient temple on our Campus which dates back thousands of years ago, as per inscriptions that have been unearthed . This Devi Padmavati Temple celebrates all the Indian festivals, and is a place for community activities. 

A few clicks from my visit today .  

A huge almost 12 x 12 feet rangoli done by enthusiastic members of the Marathi Sanskrutic Mandal on Campus, to wish everyone a happy new year, at the entrance to the temple gates. 

The tree shaded pathway, leading to the temple,  Heavily wooded, some of the trees here are probably as old as the temple.  The temple lies on the banks of the Powai Lake.

The temple, impressive in its simplicity. The idol was found  under the soil, and was installed with great devotion. The temple surroundings have evolved over the years, and include a Ganesha temple, a Shiva temple , along with the main Devi Padmavati temple, which can be seen  (with a porch like structure in front) where many discourses, community activities et al are held. One can see the Gudi (Orange silk) at the end of a huge bamboo, in the photo. The courtyard of the temple has an ancient banyan tree, several coconut palms and a large variety of fruits and flowering trees.

A close up of the Gudi at home.  The figures on the inverted pure copper pot, are those of the Ashtavinayakas. 

H2O : Two parts Heart and one part Special Obsession.

With the onset of summer in Mumbai,  our Institute organizes a Swimmathon every year. This is a 12 hour swimming exercise, at the pool, where you notch up distances  as you swim back and forth in our new 50 metre pool. Anyone can participate, and it is an all night swim, to avoid the daytime heat and sun. 

Participants range from school kids, to students of engineering, middle aged adults,  housewives and regular swimmers.  

R, a special child , who attempts and completes this every year, despite Down's Syndrome, maybe be seen in the last photograph , standing to the coach's left. Read all about him and his swimming, in a post written here 

(Two years ago , I  won with a distance of 32 kilometres swum in 12 hours. Many years ago, my Mom did 3 kilomtres in 3 hours  in a daytime version (and then went home to cook lunch ....  :-)    ).   This year, I was an official .)

While many dropout within hours,  everyone who completes the 12 hours gets a  IIT Swimclub Tshirt...

Some clicks, to show, so many having so much fun .....

3 Young schoolboys and serious chap !

Young Schoolgirls

Several folks in a single lane, and people keeping track and marking off laps on specially made tabular forms.

A few Moms and older ladies doing their thing....

One of our good swimmers,   and a glance at the forms .

 Engineering students of IIT

During a short breather...

This overall view doesn't show the several folks stroking their way across the 50 metres, while these folks change direction...

At the end of it all, as dawn breaks,  the tired lot , those who lasted all the 12 hours, cheer the coach.....

 A group photograph , of the successful folks, with the coach, Dr Reddy, second from right.  Our Special Champion, R, to the extreme right.  The Scroll of Honor in the background.

Ordinary People, Extraordinary Art.

Like last year, I visited the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival  this year too. Here are some interesting displays I clicked.

Taken on my Canon EOS 1100D camera.

 For more pictures of the Kala Ghoda Festival please check out my FB album

A skull in wood

This was a display labelled "Shoe in a Metro", made totally out of paper.  A bit of a play on a well known shoe shop called Metro shoes.

A simulation of plastic rain . Something we are destined to suffer from, if we go on throwing these bottles everywhere after quenching our thirst.  You needed to walk through this exhibit....

A giant fish, made entirely out of waste CD's.

I bet even the Vespa scooter designers could not have dreamed this up.  Converted to a bee.....

The famous Mumbai dabbawalla. Bringing you closer to your food. Actually vice versa.  

Another frightful skull made from all kinds of e-waste, produced in Mumbai in large quantities.

A massive pair of glasses, to make you see life more clearly.  And sometimes, some other lenses block your vision.  Displaying Bollywood faces.  What Mumbai is sometimes about...

A decorated mirror with a message, on a special bicycle display....

 

Some more recycled art

Rajasthani artists singing for the puppet show  in progress

A typical dabbwalla lunchbox with handle etc, made entirely out of cans.

A tableaux depicting a burning problem in society : Female Infanticide

Food !

The many colors of Ganpati

With the prayers inscribed

Mobiles  made and marketed by NGO's

Artists doing portraits outside the Jehangir Art Gallery. Displayed  on the sidewalk fence.

Yum!