The Last Full Moon of Year 2010

~*Full Moon*~

Moon,

the round moon,

the white, round moon,

the bright, white, round moon,

the big, bright, white, round moon,

the eerie, big, bright, white, round moon,

the romantic, eerie, big, bright, white, round moon,

the peaceful, romantic, eerie, big, bright, white, round moon,

the marvellous, the peaceful, romantic, eerie, big, bright, white, round moon,

the mysterious, marvellous, the peaceful, romantic, eerie, big, bright, white, round moon

stood in the black dark night skies.

To All my Blogger Friends,

When you're lonely

I wish you Love!

When you're down,

I wish you Joy!

When you're troubled,

I wish you Peace!

When things seem empty,

I wish you Hope!

Have a Happy New Year!

Xanthic Venation

~*Venation*~

Venation is defined as the pattern of veins in the blade of a leaf. This photograph is my first attemt to capture one of the natures most beautifully and variably designed subject Leaves.

No one knows whose life they touch or who they will embrace,

Just by actions that they do or being face to face.

But your life will be noticed as the brightly colored trees,

As either brilliant beauty or a pile of dried up leaves.

~James A. Kisner

This post is linked to  ABC Wednesday, show your world Tuesday, and Macro Monday.

Wedlock: A typical Indian wedding Pics

These pics were clicked during my sister's marriage!!

    ~*The Holy Lamp*~

~*The Bride*~

~*Kanyadaan*~

       ~*The Bride*~

Indian wedding or Shaadi is known for its glitz and glamour. It symbolizes tradition, celebration and togetherness. Traditionally, Indian wedding extends to be a week long affair and speaks of the tradition, culture and heritage of the country. In Indian wedding, there is an event for almost everything. Generally, the wedding is divided into three parts - pre wedding, wedding and post wedding. Rituals like 'Haldi', 'Mehandi' 'Sangeet' and 'Tilak' are pre wedding rituals. Before the wedding, the to-be bride and the groom's families visit each other and exchange costly gifts to each other along with sweets, fruits and dry fruits.

The parents of the bride and the groom exchange gift in the form of dress for the bride or the bridegroom and display them to the other family, as a part of their love and honor. The pre-wedding ceremonies are followed by the main day wedding ceremony, when the nuptial knots of the bride and the bridegroom are tied. There is an elaborate wedding feast for all the family and friends that are invited. The wedding itself is a long, stretched out process, when all the Hindu deities are called upon and asked to bless the new couple. The bride and the bridegroom take seven steps around the fire, vowing devotion and love to each other and agreeing to take care of each other in all circumstances.

Amidst such rituals and customs, there are various events that bring about a chuckle and laughter in the wedding ceremony. One such instance is when the younger sister of the bride tries to steal the shoe of her new brother-in-law and asks money as ransom. After the wedding ceremony, there are the post wedding functions alike 'Vidaai' or 'Doli', when the bride leaves for her new home. This is the most emotional moment of any Indian wedding, when the bride take leave of all her family members to start a new life in her husband's home. However, remember India is a diverse land and the rituals practiced would vary from region to region.

 This post is linked to  ABC Wednesday, show your world Tuesday, and Macro Monday.

STUCK IN THE BUBBLE

~*Stuck in the bubble*~

(This is my first attempt to capture a bubble. This was clicked in the dark with only one candle spreading its light. I promise to improve. I am off for a family function will come back with pictures of an Indian wedding. )

Uber schön

~*Uber schön*~

(Uber schön is a German word which means very beautiful. This picture was clicked a few days back at my apartment backyard where an elderly couples live all alone. There children are settled in US and comes to meet them once in the year. I have seen couple doing gardening in there free times (which sometimes is a full day) and have also observed their affection for there plants. This picture is a dedication to that lovely couple.)

  This post is linked to  ABC Wednesday, show your world Tuesday, and Macro Monday.

Tender

           ~*Tender*~

Red Rose, proud Rose, sad Rose of all my days!

 Come near me, while I sing the ancient ways. 

 ~*William Butler Yeats*~

This post is linked to  ABC Wednesday, show your world Tuesday, and Macro Monday.

Sunset

~*Sunset*~

Yesterday what I saw was an affluent and astonishing sunset - a typical Indian sunset. The reddish blaze of the sky was reflected from some beautiful clouds and came peeping through the shadowy architecture of the ground. I think that everyone should find the sunrise and sunset times and note how the sky looks at those times, at least once, to understand the beauty of nature.

The setting sun

and music at the close

As the last taste of sweets

is sweetest last

Writ in remembrance

more than things long past.

~William Shakespeare

Serenity

~*Serenity*~

After a long time, last weekend we stayed at home (no shopping) and that provided me oppurtunity to explore some of the beautiful flowers 

around our place (will upload those posts later). This was the best flower shot I have taken on sunday and I am happy that I was able to capture it as minutes later the same plant was uprooted by some kid and the flowers were gone. What a waste!!! But it reminded me a quote from Acharya Rabindranath Tagore, "By plucking her petals, you do not gather the beauty of the flower."

This post is linked to  ABC Wednesday, show your world Tuesday, and Macro Monday.

Regius Charm

~*Regius Charm*~

(After a long time, I got opportunity to click a flower again! Last Sunday, when I was out to get some morning breakfast, I observed this flower at my neighbors garden and I was unable to stop myself. I ran back to home to get my camera and clicked this one in jiffy as at the same time rains came down heavily. Hope you all will like it.)

This post is linked to ABC Wednesday, show your world Tuesday, and Macro Monday.

Quasis

~*Quasis*~

(During my first visit to Shimla, we stopped at a very famous roadside hotel, approx 30 km from Shimla and observed five newly planted seedling. At the first look they all looked the same. During my subsequent visits I was unable to find a small difference between them as they all looked alike (We generally stop at the same hotel as it provides good food with great discounts :)). But during my recent visit, I finally observed some changes in their growing pattern but still they looked the same.)

This post is linked to Skywatch Friday , ABC wednesday and Show your world.

Prosperous and Happy Diwali

~*Happy Diwali*~

Diwali or Deepaawali means an Array of Lamps i.e .Rows of diyas (Deep = Lamp, Vali =Array). Of all the festivals celebrated in India, Diwali is by far the most glamorous and important.

Enthusiastically enjoyed by people of every religion, its magical and radiant touch creates an atmosphere of joy and festivity. As a family festival, it is celebrated 20 days after Dussehra, on the 13th day of the dark fortnight of the month of Ashwin (October / November).

It is a festival of lights symbolizing the victory of righteousness and the lifting of spiritual darkness. It celebrates the victory of good over evil - and the glory of light. This festival commemorates Lord Rama's return to his kingdom Ayodhya after completing his 14-year exile.
Homes are decorated, sweets are distributed by everyone and thousands of lamps lit to create a world of fantasy which is always a photographers delight.

This photograph was clicked last year diwali, this year too I am planning to capture the charm and charisma of diwali. Wishing you all a happy, prosperous and safe diwali. This post is linked to That's my world and ABC wednesday.

On the Edge of Darkness

~*On the Edge of Darkness*~

(Capturing setting sun in the mountain or hilly region has always been fascinating to me. The best part was to capture the last fight of the Sun to spread its light but losing it to the reign of darkness. This picture was clicked during one of my visits to Rohtang Pass, near Marhi.)

" The sun leaves

bleeds out the remanants

of the day.

Day bleeds into twilight

red-brown hangs

upward darkness

blue brown

blue black

black death

unrest secretive

like ghoul-ridden fog."

This post is linked to Skywatch and That's my world.

Beauty forever

~*Beauty Forever*~

(This photograph was clicked a few days back at a garden near my house. Somehow I was not able to get the crisp shot because of my low resolution mobile camera and the dark sorrounding but loved the DOF and the contrast.)

Flow ahead

~*Flow ahead*~

(This is my first long exposure shot, clicked near a roadside hotel on Mumbai Pune highway a few days back. Long exposure shots featuring springs and rivers have always fascinated me and when I saw this natural spring I was not able to hold myself back.)

Sparks!!!

~*Sparks*~

(Klicked this one at a construction site near my home. The flying sparks looked beautiful and grabbed my attention quiclky in the dim evening and I decided to capture this one.)

Ready to Fly

~*Ready to Fly*~

(Clicked this photograph a few days back and was amazed at the beauty and the color combination of this Dragonfly. I think this was the best macro shot, I have clicked using my Kodak Easyshare Z 812 IS.)

Dancing Flames

~*Dancing Flames*~

(On a late summer night, when my brain was unable to calm down, I took out my camera and went out to click something. There was a fire burning near my place, where a few youngsters were sitting and enjoying the beautiful night. I sat with them for sometime and enjoyed there conversation about every thing in this world and clicked these pictures.

“You are born as a flicker,
From the womb of the fire
And with the rhythmic fall
You begin your violent dance!!”
~Anonymous

Color of the day

~!Color of the day!~

(Last Saturday, wifey dear was on a full day fast for me on the ocassion of Teej and in evening we went to a temple near our place. There was an unkept garden nearby where I observed this bright shiny flower standing all alone and radiating its charm. I am still not able to remember that why I clicked this picture, whether it was the charm of the flower or the sorrounding where it was standing tall.)

For more MyWorld photos from around the world click here.

The Busy Bee*~

~*The Busy Bee*~

(Clicked this one today morning near our company. After a long time we got some really nice sunshine in Hyderabad and this bee was utilising it nicely for collecting the nectar.)

~*Gift of Love*~

~*Gift of Love*~

(Clicked this one long back during our visit to Ooty. Medha was having some emotions releated to the autumn leaves and she was admant to get a few of them as memorial. When I went to collect them, I decided to create a bouquet and this was the outcome. )

~*The Duad*~

~*The Duad*~

(Inspired by Kala and Sam, I tried to use some photoshop technique to enhance the quality of the photographs. This picture was clicked long back (and was shared on the blog too). Here I tried to add some high saturation effect to enhance the color and temperature of the photograph. Hope it is not looking bad. )

~*Hasta la vista*~

~*Hasta la Vista*~

(Clicked this pic during my mumbai visit a few months back. I was trying to click few of the sunset shot but luckily captured this one where a bird and a fishing boat both are returing home after full day of hectic schedule and saying good bye, Hasta la vista to the sun.)

~*The Color of Season*~

~*The Color of the Season*~

(After a long, long, long time, I clicked the picture that I was waiting for ages to click. The macro shot of a growing lotus flower. I was not able to find these ones in Hyderabad, but yesterday during my visit to Golconda Resort, I saw this one standing alone in a pond and radiating its charm as it is opening its soul to the nature.)

In my garden there is a large place for sentiment.
My garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts and dreams.
The thoughts grow as freely as the flowers,
and the dreams are as beautiful.
- Abram L. Urban

~*Sacred Chains*~

~*Sacred Chains*~

(I was never a spiritual but after Shaurya's birth the things changed and I started believing in spirituality. Sometimes to get myself stress free and sometimes to run away from the tough questions that life keeps on throwing at me. I clicked this pic during one of my visit to Balaji Temple in Hyderabad. )

~*Way to Go*~

~*Way to Go*~

(Observed a beautiful hide and seek between the Sun and the Shadow on my way to Chilkur Balaji Temple, Hyderabad (also known as Visa Temple). The contrast that was offered by nature was simply mindblowing, you can see the road ending in some white aura!! The trip was a real pleasure but forgotting the recharged batteries for camera at home was a total spoiler)

Shining Bright

~*Shining Bright*~

(After looking at the macro shots of Flowers by Anthony and his inspiration from Kala's blog even I got inspired to click some beautiful (?) macro shots. But due to hectic schedule as usual missed my camera at home while visiting to a garden. The plants and flowers looked so fresh after getting washed by the rain and I could not able to control my urge to take out my mobile and click some pics. Though it is not a typical macro shot but I will keep on trying until I improve.)

Nature at its best

~*Nature at its best*~

(Since ages I was dying to click a shot of a butterfly or a bee sitting on the flower but was never able to do it. Sometimes because of my stupidity and sometime because of over enthusiasm. While clicking this shot I never realized that I will be able to click my dream shot. I was not sure when the bee came and sat on the flower and I was like>..... yippee!!!!!)

Riot of Colors

~*Riot of Colors*~
(Sometimes we observe the most beautiful things in the worst situations. This picture was clicked at Mugalsarai Junction (UP), during my last visit. The temperature was around 43 degree and humidity was around 80% and every human face looked drained but at the same place there was these bunch of flower shining brightly and radiating its charm.)

~*Change*~

~*Change*~

~*Bird Watching*~

~*Bird Watching*~

(Clicked this one near my house. This bird was thirsty and was desperately looking for water and was sitting on almost everything that could have contained water. So from that day onward we decided to keep a bowl of water in the balcony to help these poor creatures)

~*Sail Across*~

*Sail Across*~
(Clicked this @ Hussain Sagar Lake and Somehow the water color was so blue that even I was shocked to see that)

~*The Gulmohar lane*~

~*The Gulmohar lane*~

(Every year from April to June, the Gulmohar tree is in full bloom, despite of the fierce heat. The view what they offer is so majestic that I wait for this time every year. The magnificent view of its slender green verdant green leaves and the bright red petals of its flowers set the trees on fire. This pic was clicked using my mobile camera on my way to Shaurya's Creche)

~*The Mango Man*~

~*The Mango Man*~

(I am loving it!!!!! Thats what Shaurya is saying these days.

My cutie little devil is now in love with mangoes and he wants them as whole. There is no chance that you will be able to take it away from him. Try it and be ready for a loud shriek and howl.)

~*Expressions*~

~*A Curious Gesture*~

~*The Eternal Smile*~

~*The Eternal Smile*

~*My Little Devil*~

~*My Little Devil*~

(This pic was clicked when he was out of NICU for the first time after 17 days. We were dying to see his smile and this one was his first one. I was lucky enough to catch this one)

"The smile that flickers on baby's lips when he sleeps. Does anybody know where it was borne? Yes, there is a rumor that a young pale beam of a crescent moon touched the edge of a vanishing autumn cloud, and there the smile was first born . . . ."- Rabindranath Tagore

~*Sunset*~

~*Sunset*~

(From last few days, I was so busy with work and life that I was not able to pick up the camera. But yesterday, while returning from office, I saw this sunset and was amazed to the serenity. That was the time I realized that I should always carry my camera with me. Finally took out my Motorola A 810 and clicked this pic. It has a 2 MP camera so the pic is not that sharp )

~*The Great Indian Nautanki*~

~*The Great Indian Nautanki*~
(Clicked this one during our company's annual event. The guy on the right posed as Yamaraj and was hilarious. I still remember his dialogue Yam hain hum, hum hain Yam). I came across these type of plays after a long long time and it was a sheer delight.

~*The Dance of Death*~

~*The Dance of Death*~
(Last year, I came across a stage performance with the backdrop of Hotel Taj Attack at our company. The expressions were so heart wrenching that for sometime I forgot to click pics)

~*Tranquility*~

~*Tranquility*~
(Clicked during my visit to Ooty)

~*Escape From Summer*~

~*Escape From Summer*~
(Temperature in Hyderabad is now going up, so to get relief these boys taking jump in a lake near miyapur. Even I thought of doing it :( )

~*Ye Raat Ye Chaandani Phir Kahan*~

~*Ye Raat Ye Chaandani Phir Kahan*~

(The full moon on Holi Night bought me back to camera. I had some thoughts of clicking this kind of picture but i was never able to click, but this time I got this opportunity)

~*Carefree*~

~*Mein jindagi ka sath nibhata chala gaya, har fikr ko dhuve me udata chala gaya*~
(This guy is totally unaware of the harmful effect of tobacco and all and seem quite contended while taking this puff. Clicked this pic long back on one of my trips Warangal)

~*Mysterious Mist*~

~*Mysterious Mist*~
(licked it on the way to ooty)