Picturesque Kanheri Caves

No matter how many times I go to this place, I still feel like going back to Kanheri Caves again. This this was my 3rd visit to this gem of a place hidden within the lush forests of Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivili East,  Mumbai. The Kanheri Caves date from 1st century B.C to 9th century A.D and was mostly used by Buddhists monks primarily as residence and place to study and meditate. The best time to visit these caves are during the rainy season as this whole area with its hilly peaks come alive with small water falls and water filled hollowed craters. You will find a lot of monkeys around, if you are lucky enough you get to see deers in the open. I was lucky to have spotted two deers but unfortunately before I could click their photo they ran away.

I hope you enjoy the pictures. If are local do visit this place again, and out-of-towners add it to your lists of places to see.

 

Nāg Panchamī (नाग पंचमी) is a festival during which religious Hindus in some parts of India worship live Nāgas (cobras) or images of them.

Suvarna Temple - Powai - Mumbai - India

I am back after almost 4 months of sabbatical from this blog. I was inspired to do this small article which is dedicated to my native place Mangalore in the southern state of Karnataka.

About Mangalore: Mangalore, a picturesque port town embraced by the vast expanse of Arabian sea and the mystic Western Ghats is a desirable destination for a laid-back holiday experience. Mangalore has a tropical climate.

Mangalore is demographically diverse with several languages, including Tulu, Kannada, Konkani, and Beary commonly spoken

Best time to Visit: The most ideal months to visit Mangalore are from December to February as the the humidity and heat are at their lowest.

Cuisine:
Mangalore is known for its unique cuisine mainly for its special seafood dishes and the delicacies prepared with the Coconut milk and chillies.

Dance:
Dance and festivals form an integral part of the culture of Mangalore.There are several popular classical dance forms and folk art . People actively take part and celebrate these festivals with great enthusiasm. Some of the famous dance forms are listed below:

Yakhshagana:

Dance drama is one of the most famous and ancient folk dances of South India.It is performed throughout Mangalore is synonymous with several classical dance forms and folk art. Yakshagana dance -drama of Mangalore is an ancient form of folk dance. Performed throughout the night, it beautifully brings out the lifestyle and culture of the people.

TigerDance or Hulivesha:

A unique form of folk dance in Dakshina Kannada,it is mainly performed on Dussehra and Krishna Janmashthami. This unique form of folk dance is popular with all generation.

Note : The above photos are clicked from different locations within Mumbai.

Ganesh Immersion (Visarjan) Pics

The symbolic meaning of Ganesh Chaturthi festival is that Lord Ganesha comes and stays among us. The immersion symbolizes his return from the earth after removing the obstacles and unhappiness of his devotees.

Kondivita cha Raja (King of Kondivita)

On the Streets of Sahar Road

On the streets of J B Nagar

Kondivita residents bidding farewell to the Kondivita Shiv Sena Shaka Ganpati on the 11 day.

Moth and the Smiling Lady

I took this picture while the moth was resting on the screen door in the balcony area of my house. Although the image is a bit blurry, if you look in the middle, you'll see face of a smiling lady. At least that is what it looks like to me. :):)

Photography contest

T won second place for this picture at a photography contest sponsored by Monroe Twp Library. The theme was "Travel". She won it under the Fourth Grade category for best composed shot of the Taj Mahal.

Cake delight

Fourth graders in my daughter's class made and decorated this cake of New Jersey. Each piece represents the counties.

The kids decorated it with loads of candies and all other kinds of goodies...yummy. Of course the room parents and the teacher did help.

The final look of the New Jersey cake all finished and ready to be attacked with gusto.