This
summer like the past few years, I again retreated back to my pod in the lap of
the Kumaon hills and enjoyed a few days of bliss in the nature. Like previous year, when I experienced the
magic of ‘Jagar’ and had detailed the same in my blog then, this year too there
was a brief interaction with the Kumaoni culture in form of various marriages that
I got invited to during my brief visit.
I was also witness to cutting of huge trees that were posing problems to
residents, especially threat of falling on houses during rain storms that were
due shortly and I was able to record it in my mobile phone alongwith Jagar and
a thunderstorm, whose videos I shall be sharing in this photo-blog. Let the images & moving images do the
talking in this blog of mine -
In the lap of nature - a butterfly sucking nector
On an Oak tree - Oriental White eye
Coal Tit singing away to glory on a Pine tree
Tipped on an wire - Grey Bushchat (Male)
On the Pine tree trunk - Chestnut belied Nuthatch
As the band begins to play - it is the time for the rituals to start
Sisters lead the celebrations of marriage
Ceremonial gifts for the bride to be packed
Now all the family members join in the celebrations - invitees of the village enjoy
Tucking in some more gifts for the bride to be
Sisters perform the 'Kajal' application on brother's eyes and doting mother stands by his side
Mother blesses her son as per the rituals
All hands raise in blessing - a colorful & joyous occassion
Mother releases her son from the 'debt of mother's nurturing'
The ceremonial journey to bride's place starts in a Palanquin
The bridegroom brigade re-assembles near the marriage pandal
Ceremonially ready to receive the bridegroom at the marriage venue
