With the end of summer season round the corner, Natadol, a small laid-back village in Kumaon organized a summer festival. The people of Kumaon are very proud of their heritage and culture and this event was an ideal platform to showcase that. The three day festival had all the villagers coming together, participating and putting forth three days of simple yet engaging performances. I was lucky enough to be a part of this festival and witnessed the culture of Kumaon from within.
As chance would have it, I happened to witness a phenomenon that is changing the lives of people living on Majuli, the biggest river island in the world. Majuli is located in the state of Assam, surrounded by the mighty Brahamputra river. Famous for its masks and traditional dances, the island is a photographer’s paradise. I visited the island along with the team members of Operation Eyesight Universal and an eye hospital located in a nearby town.
Hills pull me towards them. Couple of days back, I had gone to visit the hills, once again. Plan was made on the spur of a moment and soon everything was packed and I was ready to travel- my camera bag, a book and then my clothes (in the same order). I started off in the afternoon. It was raining heavily. The roads were deserted even in the middle of the day. Sometimes it felt like as if I was driving under a waterfalls. Quite a downpour.
Monsoon is the much awaited season in India. The rains bring in relief from the long spell of hot and dry weather. Everything turns green and looks fresh. With a plan to capture some of these wonderful gifts of nature, few waterfalls and landscapes, I set out on a short trip. My route was blocked by an overflowing stream, part of which was flowing on top of the road. What followed were a few hours well spent photographing the place around the stream.
(A bird’s eye view of the overflowing stream – photographed at a slow shutter speed from a high point with a 50mm Nikkor lens)
Hills always attract me. They have a magnetic effect on me and I get pulled towards them. Every once in a while I give in to this pull and travel to the hills. Few days back, I got a chance to travel to a Hindu temple located near Bhimtal in Kumaon region. This was my second visit to the place.
(Temple bells – Golu Devta Temple near Nainital / Bhimtal in Kumaon)
Mountain streams somehow always manage to cast a magical spell on me. They enchant me and I get pulled towards them. Before I know it, my camera is ready to capture their dancing flow and the finesse by which the water hops on the small rocks. I had one such moment some days back when I was driving through some hills in Kumaon region.
On a visit to Kumaon hills, I came to know about Jageshwar, a group of old temples near the town of Almora. The temples are more than a thousand years old and surrounded by lush green forests of deodars and other coniferous trees. Away from the tourist map, the place is rarely visited by people. Only on some religious occasions do the locals gather up there. It sounded like a perfect destination for the photographer in me.
(Temple Walls at Jageshwar – Nikon D200)
