Sunday, July 23, 2006

Colva Beach: Serenely Beautiful and Peaceful

On our visit to India in June, we paid a short visit to Goa. Starting on the early morning flight from Mumbai and after visiting the Ramnathi Devasthan, we arrived at the beach-front resort in Colva, early in the afternoon. We were so fatigued, both of us promptly fell asleep. The drumming of the heavy rains outside pushed us deeper in sleep. On waking up around 5 pm, and a leisurely coffee, we ambled onto the beach. The rains had stopped, but the skies were still overcast.

As the sun set, the clouds broke up and we were treated to this beautiful medley. My camera was busy, but I also remembered to just sit in one place and let it all soak in. It so relaxed the spirit to see kids frolicking in the water, adults acting like kids, and many other aimlessly strolling through the surf. The simple joys! We walked back and forth on the beach reminding ourselves over and over again - This could be the life. No deadlines, no projects, no students, fellows, or bosses. No stress! No paychecks! :-(



We walked till the sun dipped below the horizon and then found our way back to the room. See one more previously posted here.



Once the clouds broke, it was easy - just point to the horizon and click! Everywhere you turned, a light show was in progress.

Before the clouds parted, I had to think of composition, coconut trees, the beach and the confluence of sky and sea.






Prolly should be titled, How not to shoot a Panorama!
With the range of lights and colors, the automatic setting adjusted for each frame separately. It was a disaster trying to put it all together. But it seems to convey what i saw and felt at Colva Beach!
Serene beauty and Peace!

click image for larger version

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Chai Time

Kamakshi Canteen, Ponda, Goa
After performing the puja at the Ramnathi Devasthan, I sneak away to the canteen beside the front entrance. They make the best missal and ussal paav. As I gorge myself, I notice these two guys taking a Chai break. Both were caught up in their own thoughts and did not utter a single word to each other. Prolly none were needed. By their mere presence they seemed to support each other.


click image for larger version

Closeup of the wall calendars
From left:
Vishnu and Lakshmi;
Krishna demonstrating his all pervading form and as Arjuna's charioteer;
Saraswati, Lakshmi and Ganapati;
Lakshmi (in a form represeting the divine mother incorporating all the other devis in her! yes, deep)
Venugopal (Krishna playing the flute)

Tuesday, July 4, 2006

Konkani Bibliography

I thank all delegates who attended the recent Konkani Sammelan in Toronto, Canada, and made it a phenomenal success. On a personal note, your enthusiastic response to my talk Konkani Temples in Goa was heartening.

In responding to the innumerable requests for the bibliography, I have listed them below. Over the next week, I will also upload all photographs as well. So please check back. The talk itself followed the outline I followed in two articles I had previously written. Please check my posts on the Ramnathi Devasthan, and the Mangeshi Devasthan. You may recognize many of the pictures, and see some new ones too.

On pg 57 of the Sammelan Souvenir is my article "Travels in Kumta." You can read the original article posted on my blog, along with photographs in color. Don't miss the three follow-up articles on Kumta as well. And then, a photo-essay on the processing of Cashew Nuts in Kumta. (Click through for articles).



Bibliography for Konkani Temples of Goa
  • VN Kudva, History of the Dakshinatya Saraswats, Samyukta Gowda Saraswata Sabha, Madras, India (1991)
  • MA Couto, Goa: A Daughter's Story, (2001)
  • Feuerstein, Kak & Frawley, In Search of the Cradle of Civilization
  • C Keni, Saraswats in Goa and Beyond, (1998)
  • BB Lal, The Sarasvati Lives on, (2002)


Related websites:

If you know of other related websites, please mention it in the comments below and I will include them here.