Dilli Haat

Dilli haat is now 19, standing on its feet and running. Yet the dream of better run continues. DILLI HAAT, currently celebrating 19 years of its eventful existence, demolishes all stereotypes of Government-run corporates. As far as shopping goes, Dilli haat creates a virtual shoppers paradise. Located in the centre of Delhi, this bazaar offers a variety of shop selling all sorts of Indian handicraft items.
     Delhi Haat at Delhi can be considered as an upgraded version of the village traditional village market. Where on one hand it gives an exposure to the artisans of the country, on the other hand it gives a clear picture of Indian art and culture.

 What I love about Dilli Haat is that it is clean, festive, provides a relatively safe and user friendly experience and it's a one-stop-shop for one of the best representation of what's out there as far as handicrafts go.

Gyuto

Gyuto monastery in Little Lhasa. does it remind you of something? Yes, "The Karmapa Controversy". The recognition of the seventeenth Karmapa, the head of the Karma Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism, has been the subject of controversy. Since the death of the sixteenth Karmapa, two candidates have been put forward:-

• Urgyen Trinley Dorje
• Trinley Thaye Dorje   

Now coming back to the Gyuto monastery, Gyuto Tantric University is one of the great monastic institutions of the Gelug Order. It was founded in 1475. In Tibet monks who completed their geshe studies would be invited to join Gyuto or Gyume, another tantric instituion, to receive a firm grounding in Vajrayana practice. Both the monasteries used to be in Lhasa, but they have been re-established in India. At the time of Chinese invasion, 60 Gyuto monks fled to India. After initially gathering in Dalhousie, India, the monastery was established in Tenzing Gang in Arunachal Pradesh, India. The main monastery is now based in Sidhbara, near Dharamshala, India.

Here are some pictures from the main monastery based in Little Lhasa.

As I enter, the first thing I come across is this monk. The photographer monk, that is how he is known.

 Now moving ahead I see these kid monks, looking at me through the windows of their rooms.

All of them came running down, just to see their pictures in the LCD. Their were a lot of laugh when I showed them the pictures. 

While I was showing the kid monks their pictures, I see another kid monk who was coming back after fetching water to make their lunch.

The Main Building.

The streets of Mcleodganj

McLeodganj, this awesome place lies in the western part of the Himalayan mountain range. This place is called little Lhasa, being the seat of the government-in-exile of the Tibetan spiritual leader.
A large population of Tibetan refuges came here to live and for many years since 1960 after the Dalai Lama established the exiled government. Over the years, it has become tourist destination for those hipsters and backpackers who wants to learn Tibetan Buddhism or those in pilgrimage seeking spiritual enlightenment in the confines of the majestic Western Himalayas. 

The busy streets of McLeodganj where lined up with different wares and stuff. Tourists and hippies around the streets, animals roaming around, everything so peacefully chaotic. 

  

Now heading towards the Dalai Lama temple or Tsuglagkhang Temple

At the Palampur monastery, the monk kids

Here are some pictures from a monastery on the outskirts of Palampur. It was around 10 in the morning when I decided to take a walk. While taking this short walk, I ended up discovering this monastery, where many monk kids reside.

As I enter the monastery, little monks start to appear. 

Meanwhile, I improvised a portraits session. There were a lot of laugh when I showed them the pictures on LCD.

As I said good-bye and was ready to leave, I saw this tech savvy monk.

 

Childhood

“Childhood is not from birth to a certain age and at a certain age. The child is grown, and puts away childish things. Childhood is the kingdom where nobody dies.”

Jewellery takes people's minds off your wrinkles.
                                                               - Sonja Henie 

Bride

Bride: A woman with a fine prospect of happiness behind her.
                                                                                - Ambrose Bierce  

Resting at Kamakhya

Sadhu baba resting at Kamakhya temple. Kamakhya is an important Tantric mother goddess closely identified with Kali and Maha Tripura Sundari, according to the Tantric texts (Kalikapurana Stotra, Yoginitantram) that are the basis for her worship at the Kamakhya temple

“The purest and most thoughtful minds are those which love color the most. ”
-John Ruskin