Frame 1
Caption:
Meditation in Himalayas
Storyline: At
Tunganath (12,500’)in Garhwal Himalayas, the highest located Shiva temple in the
world, on a cold and lazy afternoon, the Sadhubaba seated on wall of temple compound gives
divine dimension to the place. He is totally focused on Lord Shiva through his
inner vision.
Frame 2
Caption: Journey
to Salvation
Storyline: The
Buddhist lama at Thiksey monastery walks up the stone steps with resolve and
conviction, to go to the Monastery. The peace loving followers of Buddhism, stay
round the year at the monastery hostel even in harsh cold winter at high
altitudes.
Frame 3
Caption: Peeping
Out Of Snow Cover
Storyline: The
highest motorable pass in the world at 18,400’, Khardung La in Ladakh is no
hospitable place to be in, even in early summer. The glimmer of hope is Rinchen
Cafetaria, with its signage trying desperately to peep out of ten feet of snow.
The tunnel through the snow leads one inside the cafeteria. It is amazing to see icicles hanging from the
ceiling. However, the hot Kashmiri tea and lukewarm samosas (heated by microwave oven powered by a diesel generator)
are immensely palatable.
Frame 4
Caption:
Multi-tasker
Storyline: The young
man is a qualified pharmacist having a medicine shop in an under-developed town
of Garhwal hills, who doubles up as a doctor (the stethoscope is hanging on the
wall) for poor needy villagers. In this frame he is tending to head injury of a
patient. In my second visit I found this guy in his dentist avatar, preparing
to extract teeth of a poor villager, who was waiting for the injection administered
to have its effect. On both the occasions, I waited for at least ten minutes to
get my medicines!
Frame 5
Caption:
Pensive
Storyline: In early
morning, a pensive looking driver on a tourist car top, waiting patiently for
late risers to deposit their luggage for onward travel. The bunch of bananas
over his head signifies the responsibility he shoulders for carrying safely the
tourists, driving over the difficult hilly terrains of Garhwal region in
Uttarakhand. God fearing, honest and hardworking people of Gahwal endeared in
our hearts for our trips in that region.
Frame 6
Caption: Instant
Happiness
Storyline: The
village belles who came to our help when we lost our way in the hills during
our Deoria Tal trek in Garhwal Himlayas, enjoy a moment of happiness to see
their photos in digicam LCD. For replay of this scenario one would like to get
lost in the hills again and again!
Frame 7
Caption: Monsoon
bounty
Storyline: Monsoon
time is no lazy time for Garhwali women, who travel long distances barefoot over
stone mud track of the hills, with their sickles in hand. Soaking in the rain
with the stack of green grass fodder on their back is good enough to bring that
satisfying smile.
Frame 8
Caption: Block
Printing On Roadside
Storyline: The
cloths in various shade of colors and printed with Ladakhi script adorn the
entire Ladakh, be it on house tops, at Monasteries and Chortens ( Buddha stupas
). The couple seated on roadside do the block printing on a white cloth and
folding it methodically prior to shipment.
Frame 9
Caption: That
eager wait
Storyline: Early
morning at Stok trekking point, Stok village, in Ladakh, the Ladakhi child has
opened the garage dhaba ( eatery ) and waiting eagerly for her parents to
arrive and serve the tourists (who have arrived by car), their morning cuppa.
Frame 10
Caption: School
Beacons
Storyline: The
villagers of religious places in Garhwal Himalayas, do not lag behind in
education of girl children. The child after her puja is all geared up and walks
towards school and is determined to achieve her goal.
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