Friday Call

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“O you who believe! when the call is made for prayer on Friday, then hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave off trading; that is better for you, if you know.”
(The Quran – The Congregation, 62.9)

This is picture of Jama Masjid, the largest and best-known mosque in India, which is in in Old Delhi.
It was a Friday morning at the time of the call for prayer when many people gather in front of gate number two in the amazing market which goes to the main gate of the Red Fort.
This is the place where I always buy a few red apples from Cashmere which might be the tastiest I ever had.

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Stolen Childhood

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The use of any work without consent of the artist is PROHIBITED and will lead automatically to consequences.

 

A few days ago I saw this little boy at the vegetable market which is at the end of Dasaswamedh road in Varanasi (Benaras).
He was selling green beans sitting on a wooden cart for several hours.

Child labor in India is a human right issue for the whole world.
According to the statistics given by Indian government there are 20 million child laborers in the country, while other agencies claim that it is 50 million.
The Indian government has tried to take some steps to alleviate the problem of child labor in recent years by invoking a law that makes the employment of children below 14 illegal, except in family owned enterprises.
However this law is rarely adhered to due to practical difficulties.
People using children usually find loopholes and circumvent the law by declaring that the child laborer is a distant family member.
In villages there is no law implementing mechanism, and any punitive actions for commercial enterprises violating these laws is almost non existent.

Anyone who sees or knows a case of childlabor and doesn’t interfere becomes a sinner of complicity…

 

Distinguished Merchants

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“Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth?”
(The Holy Bible- Isaiah, chapter 23)

Once again I went to take a few pictures at Nai Sadak, that amazing market in the center of Varanasi (Benaras) where most of the Muslims shopkeepers sell any kind of fabrics.
This timeless bazaar is an a source of inspiration for any artist as the place is full of people wearing traditional clothes, there are so many colours, it is also very noisy with any kind of musicmusic and many scents are floating in the air.
Those young men saw me an my camera and they asked for a few pictures, they said they knew me and they were happy when I started looking at them through the lense.
There was a distinguishability in their attitude, those merchants could have been princes…

Shopping at Nai Sadak

 

Nai Sadak market is an amazing market in the center of Varanasi (Benaras) where most of the Muslims shopkeepers sell any kind of fabrics.
I always enjoy going there not only for some inspiration that I find for my work but also because this place allows my mind to travel with its fantastic touch of Orientalism.
It is a timeless bazaar where most of the people wear traditional garments, where so many colours, music and scents are mixing. 
This picture was shot there, those ladies who must belong to the same family were happy to find what they were looking for.
Their happiness attracted my camera.
Nai Sadak means “New Road”.

Straying Away

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“Whenever the mind unsteady and restless strays away from the spirit, let him ever and for ever lead it again to the spirit”.
(from the Bhagavad Gita)

This is one more picture shot at the flower market which is located in the chowk of Varanasi (Benaras).
I always enjoy the light there which enhance the colours of any fabric and magnifies the skin shades of the people who come in this courtyard.
This place is magical with all the scents of mixed fragrances coming from the flowers.
That afternoon was very hot, people looked tired.
This boy came from the house and stood under the sunlight for a short while, then he was sweating.
His mind seemed to be somewhere else, I took a few closed-up until I realized that his arm against the wall was making a nice composition.
I had the time to step back and to take this picture.

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With Jasmine and Rose Fragrance

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“There are always flowers for those who want to see them.”
(Henri Matisse – French Painter, 1869-1954)

This young man was standing in front of me at the flower market which is in the chowk of Varanasi (Benaras) where I like to come often in order to take portraits.
He was holding jasmine and rose garlands from which I could feel a sweet and fresh fragrance.
He caught my eye as he seemed to be wrapped in his thoughts, the contrast with the noisy crowd of people who gathered closely around us was stricking.
It was as if we were both away for a while.

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The Gardener of Happiness

 

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom”.
(Marcel Proust)

Last afternoon I was lucky to meet so many amazing people with interesting faces and expressions at the flower market which is in the chawk of Varanasi (Benaras).
Because of the heat most of the men were wearing turbans and the place became ageless.
A compelling fragrance made of all the flowers scents moisterized the atmosphere of this courtyard.
From the garments, the petals and the voices all colours blossomed, it was a treat for the senses, like a distinguish and subtile perfume.
Of course the words of Proust were not far, maybe this young man was a gardener, he was undoubtedly happy…

Yielding Lasting Benefit

“Human life is beset with ups and downs, joys and sorrows. 
These experiences are intended to serve as guideposts for man. Life would be stale if there were no trials and difficulties. 
It is these difficulties which bring out the human values in man.
Only that which is got by hard effort will yield lasting benefit.”
(Sri Sathya Sai Baba, 2 September 1991)

Today in the begining of the afternoon I was crossing the chawk of Varanasi (Benaras) and I stopped again for a short while at the flower market where the light and shades always provide a great chiaroscuro (clair-obscur).
Among many people there was this man selling marigolds, in a glance I could guess the trials and difficulties which bring out the human values in a man.

Cauliflower for Sale

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Please do not use any photographs without permission (even for private use).
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This was shot in the immediate vicinity of Varanasi (Benaras) in a part of the city which is located further the railroad station, where tourists never go and where I realize how extended the city can be.
I had a meeting with some people who were late and I started to take a few pictures of the market settled on both part of the railway.
This boy was selling cauliflowers, it was late in the afternoon so I believe that he was helping his family after school time…

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“Take my hand”

 

Since a few weeks I keep on taking close-up of hand pictures without any specific reason, this one was shot at the flower market which is located in the chawk in Varanasi (Benaras).
This hand belongs to someone who was selling wreaths of roses.

“Sometimes I feel like everybody’s got a problem
Sometimes I feel like nobody wants to solve them
I know that people say we’re never gonna make it
But I know we’re going to get through this
(Close your eyes and please don’t let me go)
Don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t let me go now
(Close your eyes don’t let me let you go)
Don’t, don’t, don’t

Take my hand tonight
Let’s not think about tomorrow
Take my hand tonight
We can find some place to go
Cause our hearts are locked forever
And our love will never die
Take my hand tonight
One last time…”

A few lyrics from “Take My Hand” by Simple Plan.
fr.youtube.com/watch?v=IM_CjJNgM4k