Faces of India -16

I am back to my favourite subject: Faces of India.

I visited remote tribal area of my state last year. It was interesting and enlightening experience to meet tribal people, in particular children.

I particularly enjoyed photographing this pair of sibling. In spite of their poverty stricken background, they were amazingly smart and sharp. Their expressive eyes were endearing.

She was a one beautiful woman. Staying in the back of the beyond she had a poise and charm to beat any urban woman.

Faces of India - 11

My fascination with "Faces of India" continues. I feel that Indian people have expressive faces,making them photographer's delight. Colourful background provides added

 dimension to the beauty of the face.

In today's post, I am uploading photographs of the people I have captured on the Indian streets in various situations.

Pol of Ahmedabad is a wonderful place for people watching.

Sometimes,you see really interesting and funny sights on the streets of India.

Donkeys also needed parking place!

Buffalo looked longingly at someone carrying sugarcane!

While one side of the road was occupied by the sugarcane sellers,other side had congregation of painters.

Turn the corner and you can see thread dyers, preparing thread for the approaching kite festival.

Faces of India - 10

After a long gap, I am continuing with my series, Faces of India.

                                                          Close -up

I love clicking candid portraits. When I look through my view finder at people, I catch,observe,see many emotions on people's faces,which in normal course I may not see. 

                                                            At Adalaj Stepwell

Moving around my city,camera around my neck,I search for human emotions to capture. Sometimes, I do feel that I am intruding on someone's privacy. I always give them enough time  to move away. I wait for adverse reaction, if any. Once I sense their consent,I continue with clicking. 

                                                    At Ravivari,Ahmedabad.

                                                      Tangawala

Sometimes,I like to interact with people before I click them. I also enjoy clicking people, when I realise that they are comfortable with me.

                                          

Dash of Orange..

Untitled, originally uploaded by Sonali Dalal.


In month of August, I visited Sitamata Sanctuary and Dhariawad in Rajasthan. Thanks to good monsoon this year, landscape was amazingly beautiful. Rivers were flowing with water. Colourful cloths worn by Rajasthani women gave perfect photo opportunity.

Dashama Festival

Dashama Festival is celebrated in Gujarat during month of Shravan, i.e. sometime in August. It is dedicated to Goddess Dashama and celebrated for 10 days. After 10 days statue of the goddess is submerged in the river. It is a very colourful festival and celbrated with much fanfare by certain communities.

Festival is played with colours,music and much merriment. Devotional songs are sung on the last day and people stay awake entire night for praying.

People are waiting for festivities to begin.

Colourful statues of Dashama are specially made to worship for 10 days of festival.

Faces of India - 9

Once again my photo journey to catch Faces of India continues.

Old city of Ahmedabad & its people ,once again caught my attention.

Faces of people residing in old city tell thousand tales. Here is Grandpa like figure indulgently observing kids.

tea stalls are favourite hanging place of people of the area.

"Baa" is going through morning newpaper.

Street dogs are common sight and looked after by residents of the area with all the love and care.

Vegetable vendors are always part of the "scenery" so to say!

Young girl.

Old man was waiting for someone to listen to his story.

Faces of India - 7 Through the Window

Recently I took a walk inside the old city of Ahmedabad. Passing through narrow lanes and "Pols" of old city one feature I took particular notice was of windows of the houses which lined these lanes.
Social life of residents of these lanes,poles  revolve around happenings in lanes,poles or squares they live in. Window is their viewfinder to this life. It is their link to the world outside their homes. Any new entrant to the area brings them to their window . People passing through are observed keenly,discussed  and of course welcomed with open warmth.

Interaction with milkman, hawkers also sometimes happen through windows.

Rathyatra, Ahmedabad

Rathyatra is one of the most celebrated festival of Ahmedabad,India.  Since 133 years this traditions is kept alive by people of the city.Rath yatra of Ahmedabad stands next to Puri in terms of importance.

Every year during first month of monsoon , according to Hindu  mythology,Lord Jagannath (Vishnu),his brother Balram and sister Subhadra ride their chariots and go to their uncle's home for vacation and return to their home. Rathyatra symbolises that journey. In Ahmedabad, around 2,00,000 people take part in procession. This procession halts in the afternoon at Lord's maternal uncle's home. And after lunch and some rest it restarts. The maternal uncle's home is situated (by tradition) in area called Saraspur in old city of Ahmedabad. According to century old tradition, people staying in this area provide lunch to everyone who participate in this procession. For this they do not charge as it is considered privilege to serve the devotees. Cooking by ladies of the area starts 2 days before. Every member of the locality participates in the festivities.Air of devotion is in the air which can affect most people visiting the area.

I was lucky enough to see going ons in the kitchen day before. Here are some glimpses of the same.

Spices are kept ready.

Puris (puffed Indian bread) being prepared.

Vegetables cut!

Many hands work faster.

Young and old all join hands to cook.

People enjoy the work.

Puri frying is men's job!