Hot Puris and Jalebis

Photo 265
Originally uploaded by gopoo.

It was too tempting and extremely mouthwatering.The sight of hot puris and jalebis being fried.The ambience was quite interesting and the immediate surroundings not unhygienic . I did want to have a go but then it was too early in the morning.

Birla Temple,Kolkata-A Side View

Photo 257
Originally uploaded by gopoo.

A side elevation of the Birla Temple.The intricate carving throughout the temple exterior shows the superb craftsmanship of the Rajasthani sculptors.

Birla Temple,Kolkata

Photo 260
Originally uploaded by gopoo.

This is the Birla Temple on Ballygunge Circular Road.It was built in the early 1990s and was officially opened to the public in 1995.The temple is tall and majestic and gives a spectacular appearance.The marble used in the construction was brought from Makrana in Rajasthan and the workmanship is outstanding. Though the temple is about 10 years old it is immaculately maintained.It is a must see for any visitor to Kolkata.

A Washed Street in Kolkata

Photo 280
Originally uploaded by gopoo.

In the early 50s when we were living in the then Calcutta,the streets used to be regularly washed.Practically every street had a hydrant.A huge hosepipe would get connected to the hydrant and the street would get a thorough washing.Gone were those days as Calcutta fell into the pits.But then it is now rising like the proverbial phoenix from the ashes.Kolkata is changing.For the good.Streets are again being washed and the city certainly looks cleaner.No it did not rain on Friday morning when I was taking a walk on Ballygunge Circular Road.A huge municipal truck with automated jets had just cleaned the street.It was a bit late for me to take hold of my camera as the truck whizzed past.Anyway the telltale marks were left behind.

A young boy doing gold embroidery

Photo 275
Originally uploaded by gopoo.

Recently at Kolkata,I happened to see a shop with 10 boys inside sitting together and feverishly working embroidery on a silk saree.They had to work for 14 hours a day and it would take them 15 days to finish.Selling price-about 1100$.

black is blackest

we watched 'black' very recently.it was awesome.superb acting by rani mukherjee and amitabh bacchan.fantastic cinematography.coincidentally there are three movies having black in their name showing in mumbai.black,black friday and blackmail.ofcourse 'black' is the best.so i decided to refer to it as the blackest.
perhaps this is the best movie rani and amitabh have ever done.sanjay leela bhansali deserves 10/10.i am sure it will get an oscar nomination.
black is beautiful,black is dignity,people look smart when they wear black suits,you wear a black robe when you graduate and in the old days cricket umpires used to wear black coats.when henry ford decided to make a car within the reach of every american,he wanted the colour of the car to be black.it lost its preeminent position to other colours over time but seems to be back in fashion.one sees more and more black car on the roads these days.
kale hain to kya,hum dilwale hain!.

Andal -Lit Cutout

Andal -Lit Cutout
Originally uploaded by gopoo.

while we were in madurai in early january this year we visited srivilliputtur,birthplace of andal,the mystic srivaishnavaite saint.the lunar month of mrigashirsha or margazhi as it is called in tamil is very auspicious for vaishnavaites. every morning tiruppavai of andal-30 verses in soulstirring tamil is sung every day throughtout this month.the verses are in praise of lord krishna with the strong desire of meeting him.we watched the evening utsavam(festival)which took place near the pushkarini(tank) about one and and half kilometers from srivilliputtur at a place called thirumurkulam.it is believed that three sacred rivers meet in the spot where the lake is situated.