Blessings for Every One

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“You are invited to the festival of this world and your life is blessed”
(Rabindranath Tagore – Indian Poet and writer, Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913, 1861-1941)

This was shot before sunset at the tomb of Mohammad Ghaus in Gwalior in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh as I was walking in the galleries surrounding the Sufi saint mazaar (tomb).
The building, built in the late 16th century in the typical Mughal style, is enclosed on all sides by delicately carved lattices over which rises a large dome.
This place is a pilgrimage centre for both the Hindus and the Muslims and this is why I selected this picture in order to celebrate the happy coincidence which makes today Eid-ul-fitr, Ganesh Chaturthi and Rosh Hashanah happen in the same time.
This place of devotion is a symbol of brotherhood to my eyes, this is where anyone can express his faith.

– Eid Mubarak, I wish you all a very happy and peaceful Eid. May Allah accept your good deeds, forgive your transgressions and ease the suffering of all peoples around the globe.
– Om Sri Ganeshaya Namah! I wish good luck and good fortune to every one on Ganesh Chaturthi.
– Shana Tova, wishing you all a New Year blessed with new biginnings, new hopes and joys…

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“A Lamp Placed in Darkness”

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“Thomas was a lamp placed in darkness to illuminate the earth filled with the smoke of false sacrifices.
It was to a land of dark people he was sent, to clothe them by Baptism in white robes.
His grateful dawn dispelled India’s painful darkness.
He, one of the Twelve, like a great lamp with oil from the Cross replenished, flooded India’s dark night with light.It was his mission to espouse India to the One-Begotten…
Edessa thus became the blessed city by possessing the greatest pearl India could yield.
Thomas works miracles in India, and at Edessa Thomas is destined to baptize peoples perverse and steeped in darkness, and that in the land of India.”
(From the “Hymns of Saint Ephraem (Ephrem) the Syrian, on Apostle Thomas and India” – Ephr. Hymni et Sermones, IV)

Christianity is India’s third-largest religion, with approximately 24 million followers, constituting 2.3% of India’s population.
The works of scholars and Eastern Christian writings state that Christianity was introduced to India by Thomas the Apostle, who visited Muziris (Kodungallur ) in Kerala in 52 CE to proselytize amongst Kerala’s Jewish settlements.
As with early Christianity in the Roman Empire, it is assumed that the initial converts were largely Jewish proselytes among the Cochin Jews who are believed to have arrived in India around 562BC, after the destruction of the First Temple.
Many of these Jews presumably spoke Aramaic like St. Thomas, also a Jew by birth, who is credited by tradition with evangelizing India.
Therefore Christianity in India is almost as old as Christianity itself and spread in India even before it spread in many predominantly Christian nations of Europe.
Today most Christians in India are Catholic following the Latin rite.
The Christian Church runs thousands of educational institutions and hospitals contributing significantly to the development of the nation.

This picture was shot at All Saints Cathedral ( known as Patthar Girja Ghar) in Allahabad in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, it was built in the 19th century in Gothic style and designed by Sir William Emerson, the eminent architect who designed the Victoria Memorial, Kolkata and it figures among the finest Cathedrals of India.

‎”In the Dust of the Lord’s Feet”

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“Bathing in the dust of the Lord’s Feet, one contemplates the Lord and comes not again into the world of form.
And, dedicated to the Guru’s Feet, dispelled are one’s fears and doubts, and one gathers the fruit of one’s heart desire.”
(Sri Guru Granth Sahib – Suhi, M. 5)

I was in Gwalior, which is located in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, during one of the hotest days of summer and one morning I was on my way to the top of the hill where stands the fort and the temples complex when I met a lady who asked me for a drive.
She was going to the Gurdwara Data Bandi Chor Sahib in order to pay homage to Guru Hargobind.
She told me that she was going there every day and that most of the time she was walking along that long road leading to the temple.
She was very touching, her attitude was showing that she was a simple women, naive and innocent however she had that kind of class and dignity that I often see among Sikh ladies.
Her faith means everything to her, she is devoted to the Almighty.
I came with her inside the Gurdwara where she was meeting two old men.
We all sat nearby this door which was opened and allowing us to be in a stream of air and we shared a few words for a while.
I took some pictures, they enjoyed to see them.
It was very peaceful, no one else came to disturb that moment of grace where I felt I was “in the dust of the Lord’s Feet”…

This picture is an opportunity to wish a
Happy World Photography Day to all of you…!!!

Secret Places of the Soul

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“Music and rhythm find their way into the secret places of the soul”.
(Plato – Ancient Greek Philosopher, 428 BC-348 BC)

Into the ruins of a Madrasa from the fourteenth century which stands at Hauz Khas village in South Delhi, I met Jatin who was playing guitar with three of his friends.
They were sitting at a window in front of the large water tank.
Their music was echoing in several rooms of the Mughal building and bringing a pleasant atmosphere.
There was a storm like those we have at the end of summer forthwithing the begining of the rainy season.
I took several pictures, it was a nice break in my busy day, this place is so peaceful that I almost forgot I was in Delhi…

Patience and Prayer

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“Seek assistance through patience and prayer, and most surely it is a hard thing except for the humble ones”.
(Quran – The Cow 2.45)

This was shot last Friday at the tomb of Mohammad Ghaus in Gwalior in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
A few people came to offer namaaz (prayer) in front of the Sufi saint mazaar (tomb).
It was quiet and peaceful, I was alone walking in the galleries inside this Mughal style building of the 16th century and I saw that bowl where was reflecting a carved lattice.
From the central dome a man was singing verses from the Quran, I stayed there till the begining of sunset enjoying this timeless moment.

A contre-jour

This portrait was shot with a contre-jour, French translation for “against daylight”.
That young man was sitting under a big umbrella near Lal ghat along the Ganges in Varanasi (Benaras), I took this photograph while my camera was pointing directly toward the sun.
The Contre-jour produced a backlighting of his face, hiding details and providing a stronger contrast between light and dark.
He wasn’t used to pictures and he was shy, then I made a few jokes until he felt easy inorder to take several pictures.
I came back last Sunday to give him the prints.

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In a Silent Look

A latin proverb says “Often there is eloquence in a silent look”.
My friend Anand drove me on his boat from the main ghat of Varanasi (Benaras) to Ramnagar which is on the other bank of the Ganges.
Later as we were ready to come back this young man met us at the beach and asked if we could take him and a lady who probably was his mother on board in order that they could reach faster the city of Lights.
He found funny that I was taking pictures here and there and sometimes I was showing him what I had captured on my screen.
He was happy when I started to take a few portraits of him, he felt important.
We didn’t talk much, it was too hot even if it was still early that morning, what we shared was silent, with the eyes.

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Happy Independence Day

 

This is the Ashoka Chakra which is a depiction of the Dharmachakra, the Wheel of Dharma. 
The wheel has 24 spokes and symbolizes the teachings of the Buddha.
The Ashoka Chakra has been widely inscribed on many relics of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka The Great (Reigned 273-232 BCE), most prominent among which is the Lion Capital of Sarnath and The Ashoka Pillar.
The most visible use of the Ashoka Chakra today is at the centre of the National flag of the Republic of India which was adopted on 22 July 1947.

“Bhagwa or the saffron colour denotes renunciation or disinterestedness. 
Our leaders must be indifferent to material gains and dedicate themselves to their work. 
The white in the centre is light, the path of truth to guide our conduct. 
The green shows our relation to (the) soil, our relation to the plant life here, on which all other life depends. 
The “Ashoka Chakra” in the centre of the white is the wheel of the law of dharma. 
Truth or satya, dharma or virtue ought to be the controlling principle of those who work under this flag. 
Again, the wheel denotes motion. 
There is death in stagnation. 
There is life in movement. 
India should no more resist change, it must move and go forward. 
The wheel represents the dynamism of a peaceful change.”
(Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, India’s first Vice President)

Today is India’s Independence Day (स्वतंत्रता दिवस) it is celebrated on August 15 to commemorate its independence from the British rule and its birth as a sovereign nation on that day in 1947. 
This is the opportunity to thank all my Indian friends, all the people working with me and my loving Indian family who managed that I feel at home in this incredible country.
Thank you, dhanyavad, shukriya and Happy Independence Day to all of you, Indians and non Indians who love India as much as I do.
Jai Hind…!!!