The Beginning or The End ?

I guess it's only a matter of our perspective, when in reality, an End is always the Beginning of something new!

So, enjoy and cherish, The Beginning of something NEW, no matter what it signifies, as it's bound to lead into another new beginning very soon.

When You Love Some One, Learn To Stay

Posted it somewhere else few days backs but then felt like posting it here today-'The Art to Stay'

We all have differences, opinions, experiences, moments, sadness, pain, worries, responsibilities, uncertainties, commitments but the winner are those who learn the art to 'STAY'. Moving on is easy in today's date. Everybody is strong, independent and confident but at the end of the day who stayed and whom you stayed for, matters the most.

I am thankful to God for, having people who stayed and the people I could stay back for...as the learning on the 'Art to Stay' continues...

Thanks Life
Peace

Celebrating...

Prof. Hijibijbij's some ** years of secluded existence on Marsh!

To World History, To the President of US

I can't Help BUT be really happy for America, for the first non-white President of America, A common Man, To a True Democracy..as I hear Obama Speak...after his victory tonight. A victory worth appreciating and acknowledging though I have nothing to gain out of it directly. But am really happy. I am hopeful and optimistic to see the new president taking this baby country to a different plane that the world has ever witnessed, specially under the current global crisis. It IS a ray of hope, a pride for the Americans, the citizens (not just the whites) of this country. God Bless.

And with this I can't help but hope, wish and dream to see such passion, a miraculous victory of the most unlikely, unexpected turn about in Indian politics some day as well....

(Back to my away for good)

A window to my world...

We are printed and sent to India...Glimpses of last few months..

And these are framed and kept...I demanded the B&W shot from Kshitiz. It is my gift of the year for the magical moments for myself. Check the original shot 'here'. Thanks Kshitiz. The other I had just printed and was wondering if I should send it to India when My friend took it for a good purpose..

I Wish her all the best and hope it brings the colors that it is intended to in her life :). All the best Shikorina and Thanks for being there. Along with her I want to thank Life for all the people who choose to stay in my life and make it wonderful. Thanks to those who choose to leave as well. Life would not have been so beautiful without those moments. I thank God for everything that I have lost and gained in my small litte life :). Thanks to life for everything.

I will be away for Good for a while.. till then ..bye and all the best to everything in your lives

When U R around......

I feel safe, I feel at home, I feel loved, I feel warm, I feel blessed...
I feel silence is enough..to friends...to Mical...for all the good, bad and best times together...

I have been very lucky with friends, and she is One of them..
All the best for your defense girl...and you will NOT be missed :) :) :P, ;)

C H I C A G O - the unseen celebration

"या देवी सर्वभूतेषु सृष्टीरूपेण संस्थिता । नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नम: ॥ "

Subha Bijaya Dashami to everybody... I had the most memorable Durga Puja in the US, and I have one more to go to 'tomorrow' :) It's like "DOUBLE Cheese (Puja) Burger (Crasher)"

Ticket Please - The CTA in Chicago where the red, blue, green, orange and pink lines meet


Flower Basket - Getting ready for Pushpanjali


The Famous Five - 5 different fruits, vegetables, flowers, rice are supposed to be offered to her during the puja


Puja Essentials - The Famous Hindu (or Lakshmi) Kalash


Danpatra - "No puja or offering is complete without giving Bills be it India or US!"


ॐ : The most famous Hindu symbol "ॐ" caught in a different form...


Celebration : "happy bongs" "festive moments"


"Darpan Bisharjan on Camera", This is my favourite shot of the event for the 1st half of the 1st day on my 1st visit to Chicago !

More of the trip as I catch up with time and work... Thanks for your comment Kshitiz it pushed me to get to the hard disk and share the Bong Connection part of Chicago !

Happy Dushera and Happy Bijaya Dashami to everybody once again till I come back again. All shots are straight from the SD card.

"E n j o y M a a d i " :)

Happy Birthday, again ....

too many celebrations happening around..
Ok, so what is red and white?

@kashmira - abb to sacch muchh ka party ho gaya :) cake, balloon...guest...:) It high time now I better take a break after this party :)

I will be there..

Wish I was a little more to the right would have got the perfect shot I had in mind... but on a 2nd look I liked this as well.. for the thoughts it conveyed. Sometimes what we see infront might make more sense than what we have in mind as 'perfect' !

12th July, Ana and Jordan's wedding, Logan, UT
** had a slightly different cropped version, this one definitely looks better. Thanks for the suggestion**

Talk to Me...

I just felt these two fella's had a bad day, and the older one was trying to woo the younger one ;) ....

Aa gaya sala !

That's what the expression told me...what did you guys hear?

Unexpected & Unbelievable !

I always wanted to frame some of pictures instead of sticking them on the wall with tape! I finally got to do it after moving into the new apartment. My wallet bit me every time I looked at them since the frames were expensive! The bite effect did not stop me from framing everything I had :). They were lying on the living floor, as I hadn't had the time to put them up on the wall yet. It was to be done this week. Yesterday I had just put the above pair framed in black when my roommates aunt walked in.

She stared at them for a while and said they look good. I agreed, as I knew my kids looked good in their new homes :). I regretted for having used 'ducktape' before this!!!!

She, Suzzane kept staring at the above frame for a while and asked what they meant and where I had clicked them. The next line was something I never expected "Do you think I can buy one of them?"

I was shocked !!!!!!! I STILL am !! It took me 24hrs to absorb the feeling and get over the shock or the self pampering treatment !! I STILL DON'T BELIEVE IT !!

I was very happy, excited, taken aback..everything. I did not know how to react. I told yes, sure. I can't express what I felt, but it was the first time somebody wanted something so close to my heart for themselves. I would be lying if I did not accept that the word 'BUY' added a weight to it beyond my imagination and expectation. Although the pair is broken I don't regret their separation. I think I will get another pair of the (left one) printed. But YESTERDAY, was unbelievable and unexpected, I had never ever thought about it!

16th August 2008

This post need not go here but I wanted to share it with all of you since you guys are a significant feedback to my inspiration and motivation to click, I owe a thanks to Vikas, because of whom I started this photoblog 3 years back (on DPC), and became more consistent and persistent with presentation and sharing rather than storing in my hard disk; to C for pushing me to get lost in a different world, thus having people to criticize and bring out the best in Me. To my friends (Ana, Margi, Madan & Tripti) who have always not only encouraged but also volunteered to be my models and letting me torture them to be able to continue my passion. Thanks to all of you.

PS. Kashmnira, so here is the reply to how I entered the blog world. It was a sudden blast or supernova explosion instead of a chain reaction, both here and there :)

A Unique Date : 080808

Today 8th August, 2008 : A special moment , to the past, present and future "AUGUST 8th"

Spot the smiley !

This weekend just passed by in packing ...for the move next week..it was quite tiring and boring..I was dog tired..but something bought a smile to my face...

Its was the 'smiley box' :). I did not really notice it, until few minutes back. It got me excited and inspired me to grab my eyes and capture it :) . Sometimes such small unexpected things makes our day perfect, :) .... The rest of the packing was fun and I enjoyed it completely.

But it made me wonder how many such boxes we have overlooked in our life till now ?

Mr Blunt Nose :)


Pinocchio - I pulled the garlic bread out :) and made him 'Blunt Nose' as he kept lying !!

Feel Like Waltzing...

I was/am quite taken aback that Tumhi Se' is composed by Reshammiya's !!

I ran into it by chance on Raaga few minutes ago...loved it. And am quite surprised that it is composed by HIM! Good Job ! I really liked the notes he put into the words...the first ever song of his that got my attention..

This song reminded me of Ana and Jordan's wedding couple of weeks back..they just blended with each other..all of a sudden, out of the blue...two years back..on her birthday! And today they are husband and wife. Wishing them a great life ahead once again..

It feels wonderful to see when the most 'Unexpected' thing happen in the most 'unexpected' way..with the most 'unexpected person' :). Cheer's to the 'Unexpected' things in our lives including 'Himesh' :)

My best friend's wedding...

Ok, so this post is going to be longer than all the previous post on this blog. Yes, it was the wedding of my best friend. Needless to say that I had a gala time shooting for myself...so many subjects and moments to capture. I had hard time trying to choose the best to make my memories...here...and share with the rest of you...wish I could capture everything, it was the moment of 'love at first sight'. Here follows some of my memories of this unusual and great weekend that I will cherish forever.

e. n . j . j . o . y


Haldi...
.
the coolest and most colorful 'pandit' I have ever seen....


all the friends (brides and grooms side) at Dandiya..

the dining....

Brides brother


the groom and his sister



pre-wedding puja...


the flower girls..


red carpet for the bride..


here she comes...

Everybody capturing the first glimpse of the bride...

there she is - the princess of the day..

the lovely moment....



post haldi feet :)


the binding process...

the youngest guest 'prithika' enjoying the marriage...

so is the bride :)

brides father..

the binding continues ..

the 'jai mala' - i was competing with those professional photographers behind!!

post 'phere' around the fire..

listening to the last instruction before they can be legally declared as 'husband' and 'wife'

the baby bride :) and finally the luncheon begins....



finally.....after all the rituals they were declared as husband and wife ..:)

wishing you both a lovely life ahead...

on popular demand...here's me the wedding crasher shuttling me between two weddings over the last weekend... I had a hell of a weekend...DONE with my fun quota I guess... :), for the year...