Face on, for there’s hardship and deceit everywhere
Seek away, for there’s truth and happiness set to be found …
Beneath the blanket of love and concern, immodesty you wear
If lordly you presume, all will bury below no different ground …
Ditch the loftiness, break away from being aloof
We stare alike mountain and stars, laying under the same sky as a roof !
Inhale, for this ever expanding world has forgotten peace within eyes,
Breathe, for the free bird wings through foulness that prevails.
Exhale, for there ain’t no truth in society’s laugh or cries,
Immerse, for when child’s muddled will wander those wild trails …
Footloose in a pursuit of zone incapable of vanity and vile,
Not to do away with hope after hundreds of thousands, perhaps its just another mile …
I care not more for I stare at the face of sky.
Out in nowhere, I am to be no one.
Climb to the top of mountains for they recite tales of centuries.
A vision of canvas earth divine and untouched
The times I see, once this nature and these lands were free.
Somewhere away from Pushkar, India.
A class of men, women
The marvels of past and present
Laying foundation to dreams, feeding monumental avarice.
Pair of hands, legs and shoulders
Lifting ego of inconsiderate society.
The sweat and tears that roof holds,
The blood those walls bear,
Hard work the road binds.
Class of labour, never to forget and always entwined. Gratitude.
Sapa and Nha Trang, Vietnam
Midst the picturesque Aravali mountains, holy lake curled with 52 ghats and the most prominent Brahma temple rooted in its history; the drama-driven love story of Sharon and Govind was to be found nowhere but Pushkar.
Not often you find yourself in a lot of Rajasthani Rajputs and South Indian Catholics, all a bit clueless, a pinch anxious and clearly reserved with the baggage of their culture differences and lifestyles.
I loved it, knowing soon all that was to be transformed and tapped off with the beats of music, swaying arms and thumping feet, for laughter and excitement will make themselves sound.
A wonderful sight, when you see the doubts and fears vanishing in the thick-stubborn air of love, the twitching brows-forehead wrinkles turning into glittering ear-to-ear smiles and hearts elevated by the warmth, commitment and persistence couple had backed by the unfathomable love and support friends displayed in every step they took.
When you know it’s right, you’ve to work and labour for it. No great things come easy in life, in this matter their existence together.
From dreary tough times to the fields of sunny clouds, from massive disagreements to noblest reunions, from ceasing up to breathing together; Pushkar has always been symbolic.
After four and a half years of theatre of love, absurdity, naivety and what not, they decided to define once and for all – Tie the knot, go in circles, utter “I do” – Voila ! Married.
From where I stood, I couldn’t see nothing but celebrations soaring above all, happiness beneath everything, each sigh sounded intimacy from hue of a sunrise to the stars lit in the night.
Father above the vast sky showers his blessings,
Not only assets on paper and money in wallet,
Or jewels on a body and crowns on head,
Love in the eyes and good sense on shoulders,
Bends four-walled house into wide open earth of heaven.
Run. Roll. Live.
For ‘Glory’ will be born.
Govind Heart Sharon.
In Pushkar, Rajasthan.
When one you can see and the other’s to look for.
Twirling and whirling between’em, she tries to elude.
In a little pond, musing over starlit drops she wants to leap.
Only, the other can’t be found.
Fill up your gills and take a plunge.
Swim. Float. Immerse.
For there are always two fishes!
One you see and other’s to look for.
In Delhi, India.
An eight-year-old girl watched and remembered glimpses of Indian soap opera one day and instilled a bizarre fantasy to travel to the east, to that magic land of India.
Gabriela Mello; from Brasil, Belo Horizonte did put her feet on the land of exotics for the first time after 17 years of wait. Fantasy back then, had grew and nurtured as a dream of life over the years.
On 3rd January, 2014 she had the foremost pleasure of embracing the land of her dreams, soil of cows and gods, sniff and inhale the typical fragrance of air which many are cynical about. But not her, she left her native shores for all this.
An Ayurvedic therapist and lovely rock-climbing teacher, she went to South India for one month to pursue her studies in Ayurveda furthermore.
After finishing up the course, she planned to travel and here I was all geared up with travel plans and camera to do justice to her aspiration.
From desert to water bodies, from monumental forts to the epitome symbol of love, from temples to the street of monkeys; the girl is as crazy as she might be when she was 8.
A care-free and humble spirit, hope when she’s old and her grandchildren stumble upon the quests of her Vó, even they get inspired and show her these to bring a wrinkled smile on her face believing that indeed dreams come true, one shall just not give in.
For the infinite memories and laughs forever.
In India.
I wondered on the wedding night, what would it be like for a father to have his birthday and daughter’s wedding to fall on the very same day.
Birthday, he’s been celebrating for more than five decades; of which more than two have been spent and felt by the presence of his own ‘little princess doll’.
Apparently, not anymore. Life is bittersweet but what would it be if it wasn’t for the same, it’s that magic potion.
This day, an inevitable in a father’s life is perhaps self assuring. You don’t give away a daughter, you just take a back seat and let the rest flash by through a window.
On the other hand, the ‘soon-to-be-wife’ daughter-bride has got her whole life ready to blossom up and shine.
In one of the most amorous city; on the hour of sunset, beautiful silver-lining lake in the background, she hears the band and drums thumping, younger girls giggling and running through the corridors, she awaits and anticipates for her groom to come ride the horse, marry her and take away all the love and reverence she’s been holding for one day to unfold.
Nervousness and excitement, being afraid and still peeking through the window, being gracefully shy and yet looking to steal a glance; one could see the unaccountable emotions of a bride channeling within.
On upon asking by a friend for any future message for her ‘moments-away-husband’, the bride sums it up by giving the most typical Rajasthani-Marwari reaction –
‘Am I not enough to have ? I am the only future, who bothers the message !’ and chuckled hysterically.
The whole room chirps and bursts with laughter with a duly sense of wishing them the best and all the happiness to stumble upon.
Blessings and memories forever !
In Udaipur, India.
January, the first month of a new year.
The month full of resolutions, desire, vigor and opportunities.
When you know, the knots of your life are tied in this month for the rest of your existence, the feeling is ineffable.
Love was so vivid that one could see it transcending from their first look at each other to all forms – smile, merriment, vibrant colors, music and dance.
It was an early age for them but it was to the beautiful bride that the cupid struck first.
Not far away, the sensation of losing heart to one, falling for someone and not having complete command on daily chores were about to follow from the groom’s part.
After four and a half years of utmost love, immense faith, unquestionable loyalty, testing societies and hefty amount of struggle, one of the torch bearers of modern love got happily married on 21st January, 2014.
All we hope and wish is whenever we seek, we find those cupid arrows still been struck.
Much love.
In Jodhpur, India.
If one has been to India, would dearly love to re-live it and one who dreams to put a foot on this exotic land, would have their eyes lit.
An elephant head resemblance, the wonder son of lord Shiva and goddess Parvati, also known as Vinayaka is revered as remover of impediments and patron to arts and sciences.
Widely loved, believed and worshiped as a god of intellect and sapience, the Hindu deity is celebrated over the course of 10 days. The first day marked by his re-birth, the tenth been the day of immersing him in water.
Bring in ! Either kids, men, women or elderlies; its time when the whole city comes to a halt and plunges itself into jubilation.
Ganesha idols, loud music, rainbow colors, crazy dance and sheer devotion is by what your eyes are been ploughed.
He submerges himself, only to resurrect next year.
Will you ?
In Rajasthan, India.
Yash Gehlot 