Friday, 23 May 2014

Mewat;Nuh, Meos

Out trips outside of Gurgaon always a great day. We travelled to Mewat in search of a tomb. In Nuh we found Ladies washing, and Ladies in the fields. The people are known as Meos. Mostly Muslim, Sufi.

Ladies washing, and Holy cows enjoying the cool water

Beautiful anklet

This is put on their head before they carry their load

Water Station for workers in the field

Nelhar Shiv Temple at Nuh

Front and back different, and wonderful

It was like something of the Disneyland

I need a new camera... I could not get close enough to this guy

More bells

The stairs let up the hill to the spring, too hot today

I hoped to buy tomatoes, maybe next time

A Muslim village just finished a wedding. Ladies peaking over

Chuhimal ki Chattri, Nuh, Mewat Haryana

It is now fenced, we could not go inside

Water Buffalo, so curious

I thought this was a bell, but a closer look shows a table leg

Wonderful Colours

These Ladies loved having their picture taken

Susanna and I had another wonderful day out of Gurgaon in the villages

Friday, 16 May 2014

Faridabad

Faridabad, is a city about 30 minutes from Gurgaon. We (Susanna and I, and of course her driver/guide) took the trip in search of Surajkund, but it seems we always find more along the way.

Our first stop was a new construction of a very large statue at a temple

We were not surprised to see a dry lake at this time of year. But we were hoping

We walked down to an Oasis

Rishi paras tapo bhumi Temple, Same Same but different

The water is enjoyed by a group of boys, Hot day

Langur Monkeys

First Date Palms I have seen in India

Suura J Kund Water tank resembling a Roamn amphithreatre, It is Hindu dates to 10th century. For sun worship

rhesus monkey

Camels for hire, too hot for me

We attending a Mela or Bazaar in Surajkund, but we did not know we were so close to the dam, it is across the street.

Flame Tree, Royal Poinciana or Flamboyant or In India and Pakistan it is known as Gulmohar گل مور or گلمور in Hindi and Urdu. In Persian "gul" means "flower", and "mohr" means "coin" or "stamp". Also "mor" means "peacock", which seems to be most close to physical appearance and beauty of this tree.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/23/world/asia/fed-by-indians-monkeys-overwhelm-delhi.html
Today I happened to see this article, it is from 2012 but is a good read

Monday, 12 May 2014

Sheetal Mata Mandir Gurgaon

Dedicated to Mata Sheetla Devi and also famous as Shakti Peeth, this temple in Gurgaon is always occupied with devotees throughout the year; except in the month of July to August, which is the Hindu month of Shravana. In the month of Chaitra, March-April, this temple is thronged by worshippers of the goddess. This particular temple in Gurgaon is located near a holy pond. Many people especially come to visit this temple and the take the blessings of the supreme goddess. Many legends and myths are associated with the construction of the temple and seem to fill the devotees with a sense of spirituality. The goddess, Mata Sheetla Devi is believed to have the power for curing diseases, especially small-pox. The idol of the goddess in this temple is made up of metal and coated with gold. An annual mela known as the “Masani fair” is also held in Gurgaon near the temple in honor of the goddess

This was our second time to the Temple, the first time there were too many people. The orange (saffron) colour is new, pictures I found on the internet show a much different colour.

The students start at age nine, up to fifteen, and study in sanskrit. Which I have learned is a philosophical language in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. They stay three to four years at the temple studying. When their hair is cut, a small part is left in the back, sides are shaved.