India is such a country of extremes, it is difficult to take an unsuccessful photo there! Before my first visit to India over 20 years ago I was warned that it would change my life.
Lovely photos, and two from my part of the world/India.
I only wish you hadnt tagged the Hindu/Muslim labels all through, it shows how little you know of the country...
Consider the foto of the henna-adorned hand...the Muslims are the ones who use henna even more than the Hindus,they even have a pre-marriage ceremony called henna-ceremony, which is now adopted by the Hindus as well as a major marriage event...there is nothing to distinguish the hand in the foto as a 'Hindu' one.
I wonder why you left out the Christian celebrations, especially in Goa and Kerala? There are lovely New Year Carnivals and Christmas processions attended by the residents of the area, regardless of their religion. In Kerala, where I live, we hang the Christmas stars in almost all the homes, come December. We also order Christmas Cakes for our homes, and have fun with fireworks just like we celebrate Deepavali or Onam...I agree there is a lot of vandalism going on, but that is all politics and not the sentiment of the average Indian...I regard the changes with fear, but at least for the present, our minds arent Hindu, Muslim or Christian, it's Indian...The fotos are awsome, I agree..
by the way, here is wishing you all the best for your Booker results.
Linda Grant is a novelist and journalist. She won the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2000 and the Lettre Ulysses Prize for Literary Reportage in 2006. She writes for the Guardian, Telegraph and Vogue. Her latest novel, The Clothes on Their Backs was shortlisted for the 2008 Man Booker Prize. For further information including upcoming literary festivals bookstore readings etc see her website at www.lindagrant.co.uk
The People on the Street (Winner of the Lettre Ulysses Prize for Literary Reportage 2006)
Still Here (Fiction 2002)
When I Lived in Modern Times (Winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction 2000)
Remind Me Who I Am Again (Non-fiction 1998)
The Cast Iron Shore (Fiction 1996)
Sexing the Millenium (Non-Fiction 1993)
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'A new dress is a great help in all circumstances.' (Noel Streatfeild)
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3 comments:
India is such a country of extremes, it is difficult to take an unsuccessful photo there! Before my first visit to India over 20 years ago I was warned that it would change my life.
This photo and the rest of the series is stunning, thank you for pointing me toward it. A month in India changed my life.
Linda,
Lovely photos, and two from my part of the world/India.
I only wish you hadnt tagged the Hindu/Muslim labels all through, it shows how little you know of the country...
Consider the foto of the henna-adorned hand...the Muslims are the ones who use henna even more than the Hindus,they even have a pre-marriage ceremony called henna-ceremony, which is now adopted by the Hindus as well as a major marriage event...there is nothing to distinguish the hand in the foto as a 'Hindu' one.
I wonder why you left out the Christian celebrations, especially in Goa and Kerala? There are lovely New Year Carnivals and Christmas processions attended by the residents of the area, regardless of their religion. In Kerala, where I live, we hang the Christmas stars in almost all the homes, come December. We also order Christmas Cakes for our homes, and have fun with fireworks just like we celebrate Deepavali or Onam...I agree there is a lot of vandalism going on, but that is all politics and not the sentiment of the average Indian...I regard the changes with fear, but at least for the present, our minds arent Hindu, Muslim or Christian, it's Indian...The fotos are awsome, I agree..
by the way, here is wishing you all the best for your Booker results.
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