Incredible India - Tourism places

[Hindustani78]

Unniyarcha, warrior queen of yore in the northern ballads (Vadakkanpaatukal) of Kerala, mastered Kalaripayattu to protect her boundaries.

Spiritual thread: The Lokanarakavu temple, woven into the legends of audacious warfare and duels of northern Kerala, is near Meenakshiamma’s home. Photo:

Valorous tradition: Meenakshiamma at her Kadathanadu Kalari in Vadakara, 60 km from Kozhikode city. In Kalaripayattu, posture and steps are equally important in combating the opponent. Photo:

Hand to hand: From the air, and rooted in the ground — at daggers drawn. Photo:

Balm after battle: With the knowledge Kalaripayattu masters have of the human body, they use foot massage to make the body flexible for combat. Photo:

Divine connect A word with God before combat. In a Kalari, girls and boys get moulded for a disciplined life. Photo:

Rhythm and composure: Mastering the martial art form calls for strenuous, dedicated practice. Photo:

In remembrance: Meenakshiamma pays obeisance to her late husband and Guru, Raghavan Gurukkal , before getting into training and combat. Photo:

Reaching out: Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of Paryaya Pejawar Mutt serving dates to Muslims in Udupi on Saturday.

Hindu devotees give money to a decorated elephant outside the Jagannath temple on the eve of the annual Rath Yatra, or chariot procession, in Ahmedabad, India, June 24, 2017. REUTERS

The chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Debi Subhadra are all decked up on the eve of Rath Yatra festival in Puri. (Source PTI)

The cart festival of Lord Jagannath, traditionally known as the Jagannath Rath Yatra, is more than 5,000 years old. (Express Photo by Javed Raja)

Muslims present a picture of Lord Krishna and Radha to Jagannath temple priest Dilipdas Maharaj as a gesture of communal harmony, ahead of 140th Annunal Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. (Source PTI)

Rath Yatra marks the return of Lord Krishna to Vrindavan with his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra. (Express Photo by Javed Raja)

The three deities go on a nine-day journey to the Gundicha Temple. (Express Photo by Javed Raja)

The wait for devotees to witness Yatra is over. A devotee celebrating in Ahmedabad. (Express Photo by Javed Raja)

Nandighosa (Rath of Lord Jagannath), Taladhwaja (Balabhadra) and Devadalana (Subhadra) ride out on Rath Yatra since 12th century. (Express Photo by Javed Raja)

A Hindu devotee performs Gatka, a traditional martial arts form, during a rehearsal for the annual Rath Yatra, or chariot procession, which commemorates a journey by Hindu god Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra, in specially made chariots, in Ahmedabad. (Source PTI)

 

[Hindustani78]

People gather to pray at the Kamakhya temple on the occasion of Ambubachi Mela in Guwahati,India. The temple is closed till Sunday to celebrate the yearly menstruation course of goddess Kamkhya. Sadhus’ and devotees from all over the country and abroad have arrived at the temple atop the Nilachal Hills with the district administration making elaborate arrangements to ensure smooth functioning of the festival. (AP)

Indian devotees pray at Kamakhya temple during the Ambubachi festival in Guwahati. (AP)

An Indian devotee prays as he takes a dip in Saubhagya Kunda, a holy pond at Kamakhya temple during the Ambubachi festival. (AP)

Devotees performing bhajans and kirtans on the first day of the mela in Guwahati. (PTI)

Sadhus taking out a procession on the eve of Ambubachi Mela, at Kamakhya temple. (PTI)

A portrait of an Indian devotee dressed as the Hindu deity Kali attends the Kamakhya Temple (AFP)

Indian devotees gather to pray at Kamakhya temple during festival. Known to be associated with Tantric Shakti cult, the mela is also known as Ameti or Tantric fertility festival. (AP)

A Sadhu or a Hindu holy man sleeps inside the Kamakhya temple during the annual Hindu festival of Ambubachi. (REUTERS)

 

[Hindustani78]

TWIN PURPOSE: A motorist protects himself from sun under a canopy of solar panels even while generating green power on the move in Erode Photo: M. Govarthan

 

[Hindustani78]

The world famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath is held in the pilgrim town of Odisha with religious fervour and enthusiasm. People throng to the town to have a glimpse of the presiding deities of the 12th century shrine of Lord Jagannath during the annual festival of chariots. It is a nine-day-long celebration that ends with the Bahuda Yatra or the return journey to their temple. (Arabinda Mahapatra/HT Photo)

The three chariots outside the gates of the Gundicha Temple in Puri, Odisha. (Arabinda Mahapatra/HT Photo)

Odissi dancers performing in front of the three chariots of the deities of Jagannath,his elder brother Balabhadra and younger sister Subhadra. (Arabinda Mahapatra/HT Photo)

A huge crowd throngs Bada Danda street in Puri to witness the ceremonial procession during the Rath Yatra festival. (Arabinda Mahapatra/HT Photo)

Devotees dressed up as various mythological figures near the main gate of the Puri temple. (Arabinda Mahapatra/HT Photo)

Devotees gather in the street at Bada Danda in Puri to witness the grand ceremonial procession during Rath Yatra festival. The festival commemorates Lord Jagannath’s annual visit to Gundicha Temple. (Arabinda Mahapatra/HT Photo)

Odissi dancers and devotees in costumes depicting Hindu gods perform during the Rath Yatra festival in Puri. (Arabinda Mahapatra/HT Photo)

 

[Hindustani78]

“pride of the 'ghoonghat'

 

[Hindustani78]

A view of Sri Sitaramachandra Swami Temple at Bhadrachalam.

The temple is being guarded by 11 personnel of the SPF in collaboration with the town police. Nine private security guards are already attached to the temple security wing, said K. Prabhakara Srinivas, Executive Officer. The temple complex is under the electronic surveillance of around 40 CCTV cameras, sources said.

 

[Hindustani78]

Devotees participate in a procession during the Girgaon Varkari Sampraday Dindi Palkhi Sohla at Girgaon . Wari is Maharashtra’s biggest annual pilgrimage held in the Hindu month of Aashaadh around June-July. The Warkaris believe that Lord Vitthal awaits them at the end of this walk, and see the journey itself as the reward. (Kunal Patil/HT Photo)

The Warkari tradition has been part of Hindu culture in Maharashtra since the thirteenth-century CE. This year, Aashadhi Ekadashi falls on July 4. (Kunal Patil/HT Photo)

Varkaris recognise around 50 poet-saints. The Varkari tradition regards these sants to have a common spiritual line of descent. (Kunal Patil/HT Photo)

Pilgrims carry palkhi of the saints from their places of samadhi. (Kunal Patil/HT Photo)

A procession in Mumbai. (Kunal Patil/HT Photo)

The energy is palpable. (Kunal Patil/HT Photo)

There are young warkaris too. (Kunal Patil/HT Photo)

When the faith stands tall. (Kunal Patil/HT Photo)

Events such as Ringan are held during the pilgrimage. During the Ringan, an unmounted sacred horse called Maulincha Ashva, believed to be the soul of the saint whose idol is being carried, runs through the rows of pilgrims, who try catching the dust particles kicked off. (Kunal Patil/HT Photo)

Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari seen with national level shooter Ayisha Falaq at his residence in New Delhi. Ayisha fired her licensed .32 bore pistol at the kidnappers in self-defence and saved a relative’s life. (Vipin Kumar / HT Photo)

Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra at Hauz Khas in New Delhi, India. (Arun Sharma / HT Photo)

A man dances, balancing on his head a decorated pot filled with cooked rice as an offering to goddess Kali, at the Golconda Fort during the Bonalu festival in Hyderabad, Telangana. Bonalu is a month-long Hindu folk festival of the Telangana region dedicated to Kali, the Hindu goddess of destruction. (Mahesh Kumar A. / AP)

An elephant is chained as he is transferred on a truck for the annual temple festival in Kochi, Kerala. (Sivaram V. / Reuters)

Hindu devotees pull the ‘Rath’ or the chariot of Lord Jagannath, during the annual Rath Yatra, or chariot procession, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. (Amit Dave / Reuters)

A Hindu devotee shows his painted back with a message reading ‘GST (Global Service Tax) - A new boon or a lasting burden?’ ahead of the roll-out of the new tax in India, during the annual Rath Yatra or chariot procession, in Ahmedabad. (Amit Dave / Reuters)

 

[Samudra Manthan]

 

[Samudra Manthan]

Shanghar

Renuka Lake

 

[Hindustani78]

Mechanised cleaning at Hubballi Railway Station

Diesel-operated water jets, vacuum cleaners, steam cleaners (two each), and four battery operated scrubbers would be used for mechanised cleaning

 

[Hindustani78]

Finance Secretary Sandeep Kumar Sultania along with irrigation officials of Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project offered prayers at Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Devasthanam at Vemulawada of Rajanna-Sircilla district on Thursday. The temple authorities accorded traditional welcome to Mr. Sultania and the officials including - CEs Harihara Rao and Nalla Venkateshwarlu amid chanting of Vedic hyms.

 

[Hindustani78]

A Durga Vahini girls takes part in a self-defence training camp organised by Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Jammu. Durga Vahini is the female counterpart of the Bajrang Dal, a subsidiary of the Hindu nationalist organisation Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) which was established in 1991. Women between the ages of 18 and 35 are allowed to join this camp and trained. (Nitin Kanotra /HT Photo)

In India, thousands of youths have joined Bajrangi Dal. For girls who want to join such organization, VHP founded an independent organization of Hindu Yuwatis (Women) in the name of Durga Vahini on Ashwin Shukla Ashtami (Durga-Ashtami). (Nitin Kanotra /HT Photo)

During the course of their training they practice Yoga, martial arts and other physical training exercises. (Nitin Kanotra /HT Photo)

Girls take part in a self-defence training camp organised in Jammu. (Nitin Kanotra /HT Photo)

Some of the skills imparted during the training session were karate, stick fighting and handling of air guns. (Nitin Kanotra/Ht Photo)

Girls of the Durga Vahini group offer prayers during a self defence training camp in Jammu. (Nitin Kanotra /HT Photo)

Girls from more than 15 border towns took part in the personality and self-development exercises. (Nitin Kanotra /HT Photo)

 

[lemurian]

Belur, Karnataka

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[Bombaywalla]

A selection of hotels and resorts in India...

Taj Lake Palace | Udaipur | RJ

cc: tour my India, travel-media, Rajasthan media, The Lake Palace

The Oberoi Amarvilas | Agra | UP

cc: respective owners

 

[Bombaywalla]

The Oberoi | Bombay | MH

cc: TheOberoi/Respective owners


Wildflower Hall, An Oberoi Resort | Shimla | HP

cc: respective owners