Love Binds Everything Together

 

“In this universe it is love that binds everything together. 
Love is the very foundation, beauty and fulfillment of life”.
(Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi Devi), Indian Hindu guru known as Amma “Mother” and the “hugging saint” – Born 1953)

This afternoon I received darshana from Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi Devi), “the hugging saint”. 
I was kneeled and I touched her feet then she opened her arms, grabbed me and hold me tight for a while as she was blessing me with prayers.
I believe that it is too early for me to explain what occured and I might need a few days to put words to this amazing experience however I can say that while she was hugging me I felt a kind of infinite energy, an unlimited love and happiness, just as what happens between a mother and her child.
I couldn’t take any picture at that time and this is why I am uploading this shot done along the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras) showing a mother’s love.
After having a bath in the holy waters this lady was combing her son’s hair, he was happy.
Hugs, energy and Happiness to everyone…

Wonderful Gifts

 

“Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.”
(Mother Teresa of Calcutta – Albanian born Indian Missionary and Founder of the Order of the Missionaries of Charity – Nobel Prize for Peace in 1979 – 1910-1997)

I met those kids in a little street of Kashi, the oldest part of Varanasi (Benaras).
It was during summer on a sunday afternoon, it was very hot and there were very few people outside.
They told me that they knew I was taking pictures, they said that they saw me several times already and they started asking so many questions about photography.
While I was trying to answer I was also taking a few shots.
After each take they wanted to see the image on my camera and it became a matter for amusement and laughter.
They were happy, they gave me smiles, wonderful ones.
I’ll try to give them some prints in a few days.

The Two Faces of Happiness

 

“A day without laughter is a day wasted.”
(Charlie Chaplin quotes – British actor and director, 1889-1977)

Those two faces of happiness came to me by chance as I was making a few shots at Ahilyabai ghat along the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras).
I really enjoy to capture happiness, I take it as a blessing, it gives strength and energy.
Thank you for all your kind comments.
Have a nice day and laugh…

The Power of Atman

 

“Hinduism is a living organism. 
One and indivisible at the root, it has grown into a vast tree with innumerable branches. 
Knowledge is limitless and so also the application of truth. 
Everyday we add to our knowledge of the power of Atman (soul) and we shall keep on doing so.”
(Mahatma Gandhi,1869-1948)

This was shot at Munsi ghat along the holy waters of the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras).
Those two oil lamps were burning in a basket while a group of elder women were preparing a ritual.

All of Humanity as One

 

“Aisee Vani Boliye, Mun Ka Aapa Khoye
Apna Tan Sheetal Kare, Auran Ko Sukh Hoye”
“Speak such words, sans ego’s ploy
Body remains composed, giving the listener joy”
(Kabir, 1440-1518)

This is one more portrait of the man whom I met at Jatar Ghat along the holy waters of the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras).
It was nearby the place where the great Bhakti saint, Kabir, wrote his famous dohas (couplets) and sang the ideals of seeing all of humanity as one.

The Chewing Session

 

As I was playing with fishes at Jatar ghat’s shore along the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras) this man came nearby, he was chewing paan (betel leaf) and therefore he couldn’t speak but he made me understand that he wanted a few pictures.
There was a little akhara upper and as he was big and tall I thought that he could be a pehlwan (Indian wrestler) who comes to train there.
The shots came out in a quite funny way because of his involuntary attitude which was a mix of absurd positions, the paan in his mouth and most of all a langot (Indian underwear) which was really too tiny for him.
I showed him what I was getting on my camera and after a good laugh, he accepted my guidance for a few poses.
On this picture there is still some happiness in his eyes and he is trying not to laugh because of his “chewing session”.

“Exposition 5 Photographes 25 Photos” a photo exhibition

“Exposition 5 Photographes 25 Photos”
A Photography exhibition
at
Galerie SPARTS
41, rue de Seine
75006 Paris – France
22nd to 31st October 2009
Opening the 22nd of October

The Eternal Bliss of the Soul

 

I was on a boat with my Indian family and some of my closest friends, we were lighting up a few candles that we were droping on the Ganges, while making several wishes for the year to come.
It was Diwali, the festival of Lights and Varanasi (Benaras) was covered with any kind of lights and deeyas everywhere.
People were singing, there was music and we could feel this amazing feeling of happiness wrapping everything all around.
We were approaching Nepali ghat.
The city of lights was offering its legendary magnificence for a night.

This festival is also about illumination of soul and burning all your bad times.
Beyond the superficial meanings and celebration, you can try to give a deep insight view of the festival. 
Reading the traditional Diwali quotations helps to understand.

“He who Himself sees all but whom no one beholds, who illumines the intellect, the sun, the moon and the stars and the whole universe but whom they cannot illumine, He indeed is Brahman, He is the inner Self. 
Celebrate the real Deepavali by living in Brahman, and enjoy the eternal bliss of the soul.”

Attaining Truth in His Own Way

 

“Religious faith in the case of the Hindus has never been allowed to run counter to scientific laws, moreover the former is never made a condition for the knowledge they teach, but there are always scrupulously careful to take into consideration the possibility that by reason both the agnostic and atheist may attain truth in their own way. 
Such tolerance may be surprising to religious believers in the West, but it is an integral part of Vedantic belief.”
(Romain Rolland – French Nobel laureate,1866-1944)

Every evening there is a Hindu ritual at Dasaswamedh ghat along the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras).
It is called Ganga Aarti and it is performed by students from the Sanskrit University who will become Hindu priests like this young man.

The purpose of performing aarti is the waving of lighted wicks before the deities in a spirit of humility and gratitude, wherein faithful followers become immersed in God’s divine form. 
It symbolises the five elements: 
space (akash), wind (vayu), light (tej), water (jal), and earth (pruthvi).

The Celestial Dancer

 

“I’m not interested in how people move; I’m interested in what makes them move.”   

(Pina Bausch – German deancer and choregrapher, 1940-2009)

 

Maria Kiran is a young dancer who was born in Allahabad before  coming to France at the age of three.

She started studying Bharata-Natyam which is one of the oldest dance forms of India when she was six years old and later she also practiced Western classical Ballet for a few years.

Ever since she had an amazing career performing in many festivals and on some of the most important stages of Europe and India.

 

Last night it was Diwali, as Maria was dancing in front of me I took a few pictures trying to capture that glimpse of the manifestation of the soul that she was carrying out throught her choregraphy of codified gestures.