Crossing to the Pagoda.

The Global Vipassana Pagoda is a Meditation Hall near Gorai, in the northwestern part of Mumbai. It is built on donated land on a peninsula between Gorai Creek and the Arabian Sea. 

The pagoda is to serve as a monument of peace and harmony. The Global Vipassana Pagoda has been built out of a sense of  gratitude to the Buddha, his teaching and the community of monks practicing his teaching. Its traditional Burmese design is an expression of gratitude towards the country of Myanmar for preserving the practice of Vipassana. The shape of the pagoda is a copy of the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar. It was built combining ancient Indian and modern technology to enable it to last for a thousand years

I went last Sunday to visit this Global Pagoda on Mumbai's western coast line. A bus ride to Gorai creek and then rushing on to the ferry that took us across the creek en route to the Pagoda. Once off the ferry, there are two roads one can take. One takes you to the Esselworld  Entertainment Park , and the other takes you to the Pagoda. 

Fifteen years ago, I might have taken the first road.  This time , I took the second.

This is a place  of holy pilgrimage ....

This is the first of a two-part post......

The route to reach the ferry.

 Fishermen's boats  all tied up across the creek.

 The Pagoda from a distance.

Another boat tied up in solitary splendour at the shallow end.

 

Fishermen go fishing in these kind of small boats

 Folks crowded on to the  ferry takes the general public to the other end of the creek.

 An approaching boat coming from the pagoda side, on a return trip.

Rushing  to the Mainland

 Clicked from the boat's bow (front side).

 A beautiful caterpillar also seeking something golden

 A statue of Buddha at the entrance of the Pagoda.

 The path to enlightenment (which leads to the Pagoda).

Stay tuned for part II.....

Monsoon & More....

The southwest monsoon, arrived earlier than expected this year, and almost immediately there was a quiet change of color in the environment. 

These photos have been clicked exclusively on the campus where I live.

A typical road on our campus, with the trademark GulMohur trees lining the sides.

A closeup of a wet leaf of the Bramhakamal plant, currently growing in my balcony.

One more closeup  of some more willful leaves of the Bramhakamal plant

This is what you get when your window overlooks an entire canopy of green, and you click from inside , with the window closed during a particularly strong shower...

At the western edge of our campus, at the promontory, just outside the garden...

Refreshed after the first big rainfall.  This fluorescence that I clicked at the top of an old tree  which is almost 5 storeys high itself, and probably predates our campus.

Once again, drops sliding and falling off into oblivion, from the window grill bars of my house.

The brilliance of the Gulmohur bloom

New rains, new life ...

Standing tall amidst the green: a natural Qutub Minar

My faithful bicycle, being admired by some clouds

Sunset skirmishes in the sky

This is not, someone with wet hair , looking at the lake.  But an old tree, laden with these "swinging" roots, enjoying a lakeside evening, just before the clouds discharge in torrents.... 

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.