Memories of Peru – Photo Exhibition by Embassy of Peru in Collaboration with Delhi Photography Club

Embassy of Peru in Collabration with Delhi Photography Club presents 

“MEMORIES OF PERU”. (1890-1950) A Photo Exhibtion 

Memories of Peru

In a geography that comprises of Amazonian forests, tropical glaciers, imposing mountain ranges and arid deserts, the various indigenous cultures of Peru, came into contact with people from Europe, Africa and the East. It was a story of conquest and migration that ended up shaping the postcolonial period.

 

 

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These elements- geography, society and culture-have interacted in complex ways and have produced surprising new cultural manifestations. One of these has been photography. The images that make up the “Memories of Peru – Photographs 1890-1950” bear witness to the fact that the Peruvian photographic tradition has been nourished by the undoubted talent of a group of prominent visual creators who used the camera-one of the most influential symbols of modernity in the said period -as a means to portray, understand and interpret the country.

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For a society like that of Peru, which at the end of the 19th century was geographically fragmented, the photographic image was an important tool in acknowledging the idea of national identity.

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Thanks to these images – and to many others like them – Peru, as we know it today, began to emerge before itself and to the world, as an apprehensible reality. The natural wonders of its territory, the great monuments of its pre-Columbian past and the ancestral customs are interwoven with the modernizing aspirations, the advance of the capitalist economy and the social conflicts of a national society in the making.

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“Memories of Peru – Photographs 1890-1950” allow us to relive that era and value the talent of lens masters such as Max T. Vargas, Martin Chambi, Carlos and Miguel Vargas, Juan Manuel Figueroa Aznar, Sebastián Rodríguez, Baldomero Alejos or Walter O. Runcie, to name a few among some of the most distinguished photographers from this compilation.

Women travellers guide to Holi in Barsana & Nandgoan : Aditi Nashine

horse racing
Well, as you know the festival of colours- Holi, is celebrated in March marking the onset of certainly one of the best seasons i.e Spring. The whole vibe of Holi festival spreads so much of colours, love and positivity in life.
I generally don’t take much interest in festivals, but festival of colours is simply one of kind.
The pichkaris, the water filled balloons and those colours, just doesn’t allow my inner child to resist celebrating the festival and having fun on those crazy Holi dances and how can I forget the sweets! Gujia’s, you know!
Well I am lazy person basically a couch potato, mostly and always on bed with laptop.
But This time, I celebrated the festival in Uttar Pradesh. I recently got a chance with DPC to capture one the most famous Holi celebrations in different parts of U.P.
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 Pic Aditi Nashine
Feels so great to get the amazing opportunity to travel with DPC and capture something which is different, unique and which is so famous across world.
I travelled to U.P via road and planned the trip for three days to witness the festivities at Barsana, Nandgaon and Vrindavan. These places offers breath taking visuals of colours, culture and traditions. We were 15 of us and I was the only woman traveller in the group. I felt great because I got a chance to travel with the best of enthusiastic people who were excited and passionate about capturing the best frames.
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Pic Aditi Nashine
As a woman traveller I can give you few  TIPS:
• Wear conservative clothes, for reasons that you don’t want to feel uncomfortable even if someone throws water at you and your dress sticks on your body.
• Comfortable shoes, you know how it is right? We can’t rule the world in stilettos, always!! Sometimes you have to see a goodbye to heels too. Sadly, though.
• Always carry water bottle, beside trust me there’s a lot to capture and miles to go before you get your satisfying click. Keep yourself hydrated when the going gets tough.
• Don’t carry any valuable item with you, as you might misplace it or it might get robbed.
• Carry a scarf with you, for those unforeseen circumstances.
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Samaj in progress Pic Aditi Nashine
So, yes once you take care of all those points stated above for your comfortable and easy peasy journey you can just focus on getting some amazing clicks.
On the first day of the travel, I visited Barsana.
In Barsana, Lathmar Holi is celebrated in the narrow lanes of Barsana ,
The men from Nandgaon (another town in U.P) Barsana every year, only to be greated by sticks(lathis) of the women there.
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The women hurl the sticks at the men, who try to protect themselves with shields.
Everybody takes this in great spirit, playfully and doesn’t shy away to have fun. There are travellers from across the world who come to witness this special Holi, and chant for endless times “Radhe Radhe”.
At Barsana you can click pictures of wet Holi, where people dance in huge crowd under splash of water and colours. Usually the festivities starts from morning, but the main event starts at 5 in the noon.
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Brothers in color  holi Pic Aditi Nashine
At the temple villagers and communities from Barsana get together at a spacious lawn to offer prayers and chant the bhajans, this is called Samaj. During this time, lots of water and colours is thrown on the people which marks the beginning of the festival. For people who wish to gather the rawness of the place and culture get to experience a lifetime with some real good colourful pics of the event, For the people who wish to visit Barsana for enjoyment I suggest them not to visit. Beacuse the kind of crowd that visits barsana during this festival  in our local language is called “Manchala” as they come from various rural parts of Uttar Pradesh and  their behaviour is not  assured.
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Welcome to Barsana   Pic Aditi Nashine
After Barsana, on the second day of the trip the next stop destination was Nandgaon. The start of the day was wonderful, after an amazing breakfast after which we headed to Radha Rani temple.
While passing the narrow lanes of Nandgaon we happened to bump up in building which was also a 15th century Haveli with 5-6 families still living. The typical 15th century Haveli with spacious courtyard in the middle with double storey construction. We also climbed the rooftop of the Haveli from where the panoramic view of the complete holy town of Nandgaon was visible.
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We clicked beautiful pictures of the Haveli as well and made a quick move from there to the temple. As compared to Barsana, in Nandgaon it was less suffocating, Like I witnessed samaj at Barsana, the same was witnessed at Nandgaon as well. Over here the gathering time for samajh was 4pm.
I spent my day clicking pictures there till about 6.30 pm and then headed back to my hotel in Vrindavan.
The last day of my travel, the day started off with 8km Parikrama around the main temple. I managed to walk for 2kms along with other people doing Parikrama.
After which I found Gaushala mandir, and happened to click few random pictures, post which I went to Yamuna ghat and had a boat ride and clicked pictures of the people taking bath in the holy water. I also clicked women drying their washed sarees.
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TIPS:
• When you visit a small place,
• Make sure you explore all the moods of travel, be it any.
• Gatecrash into random houses for amazing experiences and conversations that takes place.
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On the last day of the trip at Vrindavan, I witnessed Phoolo ki Holi At Banke-Bihari temple; where the temple was decorated with flowers and people indulge in playing Holi with flowers, flowers and lots of it. The Holi festivities at Vrindavan goes on for a week with lots of folk music, bhajans, dance, colour, bhaang and pichkaris.
The people of U.P. are always full of joy and excitement for this festival and awaits for the festivities to begin with great preps.
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A lot to witness and know more about this beautiful festival in U.P, so if you haven’t visited U.P this Holi, make sure you do the next time.
All the photo enthusiasts out there and all the solo girl travellers pull up your socks and tie your laces, instead of breaking your couches hit the ground. This world offers unique experiences and unique places from your neighbourhood itself. Keep clicking, keep travelling!
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About the Author. : Aditi Nashine

Aditi is a avid traveller and a documentary photographer. Aditi  started her photography journey at the tender age of 15 years when she was pursuing her  high school. She studied Bachelors in Management and law because her parents wanted her to do so, But she always wanted to become a Photographer. After completing her college she shifted from Nagpur to Mumbai to pursue her dream career in photojournalism and expand her knowledge.

Aditi did her one year Diploma in Photo Journalism and Documentary Photography from reputed Udaan School of Photography , Mumbai.

She travels to different places meet people she comes across and try to capture their stories .  She wants to contribute to areas where women can freely travel explore and reconnect with themselves . In her free time she can be found on her couch watching some Hollywood documentaries in order to keep her fire alive .

She’s passionate about her format of  photography. She’s got eye for detail and a keen observer.

Wanna read few more travel diaries you can follow this page more often.

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DPC Announces Day Trip to Dauji Ka Huranga on 3rd March 2018

Delhi Photography Presents Dauji ka Kuranga   Date : 3rd March 2018

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Day Trip to Dauji ka HUranga

Unique opportunity to Click the wet Holi and Colors

The festival of Holi is celebrated in the small town of Baldeo located at a distance of about 20 km from Mathura by the name of Dauji Ka Huranga.

Description:

The most striking characteristic of Dauji ka Huranga is that here Lord Balaram or Baldeo replaces Lord Krishna as the presiding deity of the festival. There is a temple dedicated to him in the heart of the town and that is the prime spot of the celebrations.

A wild craze marks the festivities. Men and women assemble within the premises of the temple by afternoon. Sangeet Samaj, a kind of devotional music fills the atmosphere. Then they drench each other with hues of myriad color. The ambience is very colorful and joyous. From the roofs of the temple women pour buckets of colored water on the men.

The men tear off their clothes. Whips are made of these clothes and are used to beat the men up. It is all done in the right spirit. However the men are not permitted to touch the women or remove the veil from their faces.

You have no respite even if you are an on looker. You will be dragged into the merrymaking and soaked in colors. But there is no doubt that it is thoroughly enjoyable. Fun, frolic and loads of delight mark the Dauji ka Huranga.

Time for celebrating the Dadjee Ka Huranga in Baldeo, Uttar Pradesh

It is celebrated two days after the day on which Holi is celebrated throughout the country. Holi is celebrated on full moon day in the month of Phalgun. Dauji Ka Huranga comes two days later. This year it is celebrate on 3rd march 2018

Jay dauji

Trip Details :

Date 3rd March 2018

Travel Details: Leave Delhi for Baldeo mathura by AC Tempo Traveller

Meeting Place: IIT Delhi, main gate

Timings: 6.00 am (pls be there 15mins prior to departure)

Breakfast on the way to Mathura

Cost :

2000 for DPC Members

2500 For Non DPC Members

Breakfast , Lunch and Evening snacks included