CURSE OF THE MODERN TECHNOLOGY

Once upon a time families created the finest sharies on their handloom that time has gone, modern factories took over this precious work and left only the weaving of towels to insure their income at 10 RPS a piece…

The saying ‘curse of the modern technology’ is so true for the whole villagers of Rajgram in Bankura district of West Bengal. Rajgram is a small village of nearly forty families of weavers. Few years ago I had to go to Bankura for one day for my work. Next day I spend sometimes in the village while waiting for my train. I was aware about the present situation of Rajgram and unable to resist myself to go there.

There was a time when these people were happily living with their weaving profession. Earlier they used to weave Sharis and towels. Now they are only preparing towels. Even they cannot purchase the thread for themselves also. They have to take the thread form the creditor. For a pair of a towel they earn only twenty rupees. Normally it takes a whole day to finish a pair of a towels ! Really they are facing the survival problem. Now a day’s the females and the old men in the family are only sewing and the younger men are trying to get involved in other profession like rickshaw pulling.

Discovering life in the village of Rajgram….

Whose there…?

Power Cut

Another big problem for the people of Rajgram is power cut .

Spinning

An old woman spinning

A house wife spinning her handloom in front of her small room.

Shunil was one of the man who has changed his profession from weaving to rickshaw pulling. He was my rickshaw puller at Rajgram.

He was one of the best weavers from that village. Now he can barely hear and see anything and due to some unknown reason government has stopped his pension also. Not sure that he is still there or not.

Shaving

Life goes on

For large view please click blog.apratimsaha.com

VARANASI

Mark Twain truly said that “Varanasi is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together”.

Varanasi is also commonly known as Benares or Benaras  and Kashi, a city on the banks of the River Ganges in Uttar Pradesh.  According to legend, the city was founded by the Hindu deity Lord Shiva, several thousand years ago which makes it one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in the country. It is regarded as a holy city by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and the oldest in India.

Enjoy the spirit of Varanasi here….

Probhat Aroti

Om !

Morning puja on Ganges.

 In memory of the forefathers

He came all the way from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, to Varasnasi to bring homage to his deceased ancestors, like so many Hindu from all over India, believing that after death, the soul given to the Goddess Ganga, remains in the river of life and death.

Sun Rise

Sun rise on Ganges.

Body Building

Early morning body building at Varanasi.

Puja

Puja before Body Building .

Body Building 

Early morning body building at Varanasi.

Body Building 

Early morning body building on the Ganges.

Pranayam

Early morning pranayam on the Ganges.

Yoga

Sit – Up

Early morning body building on the Ganges.

Priest

Priest 

A priest at Varanasi.

Sadhu

A Sadhu at Varanasi.

Handful of blessing

Pradeep Kumar Dwivedi, the priest of the Shitala Mandir at Dasaswamedh Ghat, Varanasi is one of the  few survivors of a tragic bus accident on 3rd June 1996 morning where more than fifty people were killed. Four people are still in coma. In that accident he lost one of his hands. As the time passes by he realized that he was being neglected by his family as he became physically challenged due to that tragic occurrence. One day he told his father that he’ll earn himself and he came to Varanasi. When he came to Varanasi he fell in love with the ancient city.

Mentor

Ganga Darshan

Boating on the Ganges.

Ganga Darshan

Ghats

Ghats of Varanasi.

Fortune Teller

A fortune teller on the Ganges at Varanasi.

Sadhu

A priest from Varanasi.

Waiting

An old woman at Varanasi.

Puja

Puja on the Shitala Mandir.

Puja

Puja on the bank of Ganges.

Burning Ghat

Burning Ghat on the Ganges at Varanasi.

Burning Memories

Few days ago early in the morning one mobile call from Varanasi really shocked me for some time. Only four words “Sir Kiran mama chale gaye” (Kiran uncle is no more). Though I was getting ready for my office but couldn’t control myself and sat on the couch for an hour. He was only 65 ! Kiran Chowdhury, the famous Doma (A Hindu caste whose duty is to burn the dead and look after the crematorium) of Varanasi is no more ! Though he’ll not burn bodies anymore but there’ll be burning all the time. From now bodies will be burnt without his touch as he burnt to ashes. During my last visit to Varanasi we had a long discussion regarding Hinduism and Karma. That day once again I realised that wisdom doesn’t come from the books always.

Burning Ghat

Burning Ghat on the Ganges at Varanasi.

Navaratri

A family celebrating Sharada Navaratri at Varanasi.

Evening Puja

Evening Puja on the Ganges at Varanasi.

Durga Bisarjan

DURGA BISARJAN on the Ganges at Varanasi.

Puja

Evening Puja on Doshomi at Varanasi.

Dura Bisarjan

DURGA BISARJAN on the Ganges at Varanasi.

Sondha Aroti

Sondha Aroti (Evening Puja) on the Ganges at Varanasi.

Sondha Aroti

Sondha Aroti (Evening Puja) on the Ganges at Varanasi.

A panoramic view of the Varanasi ghats.

For large view please click blog.apratimsaha.com