India, my love

Photo essay: People in New Delhi, Agra, Pushkar, Varanasi, Jaipur, Jodpur...

by Lida Ghaemi
12-Sep-2008
 
My journey to India this great old civilization is one of the most amazing experiences I have ever encountered in my life. India with a population of more than one billion faces such poverty that is hard to believe how people can live in such misery. Yet they carry on with the every day rituals. One big aspect of their daily life is intertwined with spirituality and worshiping which play a big role in the life of people in India. They are the most tolerant, peaceful people I have ever seen. Places we visited were South of Goa, New Delhi, Udaipour, Jodpour, Pushkar, Jaipur, Agra, Khajuraho, and Varanasi.
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i love iranian

by pramod (not verified) on

hello friends.
.

It is nice that you are so concern and fascinated by India.I am a comp science graduate working in an MNC
yet i love history.

when i hear about the human right violations Iranian free thinking people face my heart cries.
you are our fellow Aryans you were the torch bearers of
the world civilization.and after the barbaric Arabs conquered ......

please don't think i am a fanatic Hindu.i leave in a Muslim majority area and i have more Muslim friends
than Hindu.
the only girl i ever loved is a Muslim having said that
i reject extremism.and i feel that we both(Iranian and Indians) have been victim.
i would love to hear from you all my email id is

pramodx86@gmail.com


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To Lida

by Indian (not verified) on

Hi Lida, Nice pics.But u sud not be that surprised to see the poverty, after all when there is equal poverty in ur own country-iran, right???2day poverty in india is around 20%. But this was as high as 70% some 50 yrs back(after 600 years of islamic and british invasion and robbing).But India is progressing very fast and soon emerge as the dominant nation in Asia at par with China only.


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Stunning collection

by Bernie (not verified) on

My determination to travel to India has been strengthened immeasurably.
Thanks for sharing a wonderful experience.


kfravon

Thanks....

by kfravon on

Lida jan, Thank you for sharing your amazing trip to India with us. I've never been there and would love to go. Yes, most tell me the poverty will kill you...but I still hope to make it there. Have you seen the academy award film: 'Born in to Brothels'? If not, it's a must see! //www.kids-with-cameras.org/home/ You have a great eye ... I also have too many favorites....


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excellent

by A+D (not verified) on

Thank you Lida. absolutely lovely pictures.


Mona 19

Very colorful pictures

by Mona 19 on

India's gift to the world is her example of unity in diversity.

Diversity of habits, faiths, practices and observances have all contributed to the rich texture of Indian life and living.

The beauty of the Indian people lies in the spirit of tolerance,
give-and-take and a composition of cultures that can be compared to a
garden of flowers of various colors and shades of which, while
maintaining their own entity, lend harmony and beauty to the garden -
India!

 

Mona ;)

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu67pzugkMQ

 

 


irannostalgia.com

Two Sets of opinions on India

by irannostalgia.com on

I looked at some of the pictures and they are brillant. I'm using a WIFI connection in a hotel in Italy and its too slow to watch so many pics with it. So I'll bookmark the article to come back and watch the rest of the pics.

Wow, I never dare to take pictures of people, I mean strangers, because I think they might  get angry if they catch me doing it.

I'm planning to go to India, when its winter in Europe.

I am a bit confused because the people I've asked fall into two seperate groups regarding India. Those who absolutely hated their visit to India, and those who said it was the most amazing experience in their lives.

The company I work for has an office in a sattelite town around Dehli.  So some co-workers have gone over there. They HATED it with a vengance. All of them said: Don't Go! They say its crowded, insane, smells horrible, its warm and that the famous sites and monuments are not as amazing as you expect. They also say that driving is like preparing yourself for suicide in India. Instead they insisted I should visit Thailand saying that it was monumental and beautiful while at the same time clean and safe.

 

On the other hand I've non work related friends that have gone and at least two said that it was so amazing that after that experience they don't feel like visiting any other country because in comparison all other tourist places look dull.

As far as happiness in India.  I have to look more into it. Yet, it could be that the photografer focused on happy people. We all know they let people die of hunger on the streets there. You know there was that iranian director's movie "Scream of the Ants" set in India. In it there is also two visions of India. The guy thinks: These people are stupid to be happy when living in such missery, they should be complaining instead. While the girls was more into the spirituality of things.

 

 

//www.irannostalgia.com

irannostalgia.com

 


Souri

JJ jan, bring me with you ...

by Souri on

This is my old dream. I always told my husband for my retirment I choose to live in India, Punjab. I like everything about this country. Everything but poverty! The rich culture, humanism, budhism, clothing, food....I love India.

Thanks for sharing those amazing pictures with us. My favorite though is the # 39281 :O)


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Devoted to you.

by Francesco Sinibaldi (not verified) on

It's night, the
fall of an absent
caprice leaves
in the country
a sullen behaviour,
the sound of
a fancy and
always that care,
like a beautiful
fortune.

Francesco Sinibaldi


Jahanshah Javid

Indian connection

by Jahanshah Javid on

I feel like one day I will end up in India. So many colors, so much diversity and tolerance...

And by the way, look at the men with beautiful colorful turbans and baggy clothes -- even ear rings! For the umteenth time: When is Western fashion for men going to get more colorful and imaginative, goddammit! :o)

You did a wonderful job in capturing their joy and peaceful spirit, despite material poverty. I have so many favorites from this set of photos. Here's a summary:

LOVERS ON BEACH
//iranian.com/main/image/39177

EXPLOSION OF COLORS
//iranian.com/main/image/39237

INNOCENCE
//iranian.com/main/image/39303

MIRROR
//iranian.com/main/image/39174

FRIENDS
//iranian.com/main/image/39267

HAPPY OLD MAN
//iranian.com/main/image/39202

COLORFUL TURBAN
//iranian.com/main/image/39200

FAMILY
//iranian.com/main/image/39167

FLOWER LADY
//iranian.com/main/image/39276

MOTHER AND SON
//iranian.com/main/image/39256

HAIRCUT 1
//iranian.com/main/image/39199

HAIRCUT 2
//iranian.com/main/image/39272

BIKER 1
//iranian.com/main/image/39162

BIKER 2
//iranian.com/main/image/39245

SCHOOL KIDS
//iranian.com/main/image/39131

GIRLS DANCING
//iranian.com/main/image/39287

FATHER AND SON
//iranian.com/main/image/39291

KIDS ON BOAT
//iranian.com/main/image/39289

SITTING MAN RIVER
//iranian.com/main/image/39279

SWEET HOLD
//iranian.com/main/image/39274

MAN EAR RINGS
//iranian.com/main/image/39176

COLORS: BODY CURVE
//iranian.com/main/image/39224

PALM FLOWERS
//iranian.com/main/image/39141

STREET GAME
//iranian.com/main/image/39209

AIDS
//iranian.com/main/image/39208

FASHION
//iranian.com/main/image/39198

CLOTHES MEN
//iranian.com/main/image/39260

SWEET SLEEP
//iranian.com/main/image/39115

PIZZERIA!
//iranian.com/main/image/39218

DIGNITY
//iranian.com/main/image/39286

VANITY
//iranian.com/main/image/39278

HOPE
//iranian.com/main/image/39204

READING
//iranian.com/main/image/39154

BARE FEET
//iranian.com/main/image/39179


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Beautiful pictures and

by Anonymous13 (not verified) on

Beautiful pictures and beautiful people. Poverty is a comparative concept. These people are living their life and look happy withouth any material attachments unlike many of us (I'm talking about myself). One either is materialy rich or spritualy rich; it's very hard to be rich in both aspects. I wish I was like them, but my human nature doesn't let me. Unfortunatley, I'm so attached to the material world.