Photo Gypsy
Photo Essay, words through lens...
Desert Safari, Belle-dancer show
Sun, Sep 13 2009 01:23 AM
Jamesh Kottakkal captures the romance and fantasy of arabian nights...
Raqs Sharqi or Belly dance will take you to the romance and fantasy of the arabian nights, harems and Bedouins of the desert. Popularly known as Belly dance all over the world, Raqs Sharqi literally means oriental dance. The name Belly dance is a misnomer nonetheless as not only the belly, but also hips, shoulders and arms are important in getting the correct sway and movements to the music. Nowadays different types of props are used like firesticks, fans, swords and canes, although they were unheard of in the olden days.
The harem pants are the only authentic remaining part of the costume, the rest of the beaded and sequined gear are borrowed from the vaudeville, Broadway and Hollywood notions of Arabic attire...
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Mysore’s Imperial Dasara
Sun, Feb 15 2009 10:45 AM
V C Ajilal captures the spirit of the annual Dasara festivities...
Dasara greeted me with all its ritualistic vigour the moment I reached Mysore on the first week of October to experience the festival of lights and delights. I had only a picture-post-card knowledge of the grand festival; two postcards, to be precise, of the Mysore Palace in day and in night with over-emphasised tones, were all I had in mind. Whenever I thought of Dasara, these postcards would flash through my memory. In the over-pitched colours of the post card, the Palace had a cinematic glaze that had a deep imprint on my imagination.
Now I am in the imperial city teeming with enthusiasm on the Dasara festivities. It’s colour and smiles all around. Every street garlanded with marigold and banana leaves, newly painted homes gleaming with lights and flowers... View this photo essay
Images from the Tibetan Village in Bailakkuppe
Sun, Feb 15 2009 10:45 AM
V C Ajilal spends a day in the second largest Tibetan village in India....
As the Olympic Torch was flown across continents wrapped up in heavy security, I was reminded of the lamps of peace and meditative calm of "Lugsum Samdupling", a Tibetan settlement and Monastery in Bailakkuppa near Mysore, Karnataka. The place was so full of light and wisdom and people moved around as if they don’t even feel the weight their own body. The little lamas in deep pink gowns scurried all over the place giggling. They seemed to have no complaints. Or is it their way of continuous protest, a strong silent one? A smiling dissent? A nuanced one perhaps!
Deep down the veil of the meditative calm, there ought to be simmering protests, a strong innate longing for their Land of Snow. It’s been more than half a century now since the Tibetan diaspora reached this South Indian district... View this photo essay
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