DPC annonces photo trip to Puskar Mela (Cattle Fair)

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♫ Padhaaro mhaare desh ♫

Every November, the sleepy little township of Pushkar in Rajasthan, India comes alive with a riot of colors and a frenzied burst of activity. It’s the world’s largest Camel Fair! The Pushkar Mela. A truly unforgettable experience to capture the vibrancy of the entire state of Rajasthan in one place!
Be there to experience it!

The ‘Pilgrim City’ and one of the oldest Indian Cities, Pushkar is a picturesque town in Rajasthan. The prime attraction is the Holy Pushkar Lake, considered sacred by the Hindus.

We look forward to have you along! So Book your seats, pack the camera gear and drown yourself in most memorable experiences.

Schedule:
Leaving Delhi: 10th November – Thursday Night 10 pm

Reach Pushkar 11th November by Morning, Check in at Hotel, Have Breakfast and rush to the Fair Site
Post Lunch : Rush to Pushkar Fair and mela ground for events and  evening with mesmerizing sunset.
12th November (Saturday) Morning: capture the Sunrise, visit the fair and also doing the local markets of Puskar.

13th November (Sunday) Visiting the famous Brahma Temple known as the Jagatpita Brahma Mandir . Late evening head back to Delhi.

Total Seats: 12
Travel by: Tempo Traveller
Stay: On twin sharing basis.

Total Trip Cost: Rs. 7,700/- (including the registration fee of Rs. 3,000)
and Rs. 7,200 for Members/Volunteers. [The cost includes stay, travel and food.]

Gear: You can carry tripods and wide angle lenses for cameras. Any camera is good for this trip as long as it is digital. Please wear comfortable clothes according to the weather, comfortable shoes as there will be a lot of walking, take your hats/caps, shades and sunscreen.

 

DPC Announces photo trip to Ahmedabad Navratri ( Garba Raas)

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DPC is  happy to announce that we are arranging the next DPC Photo Bus trip to Ahmedabad, to capture the essence of Navratri and Dandya.

This trip is for 3 days- 4 nights. We are going by train (3 tier)
We will be visiting Gujrat Heritage- Sarkhez Roza, Teen Darwaza, Sabarmati River front and many more interesting sites. In the evenings will enjoy Garba Raas

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Other Important Details
We leave on 6th Oct, Thursday and be back on 10th Oct, Monday.
Stay: will be on twin sharing sharing basis in a home stay environment .
Mode of travel: Train
Gear: You can carry tripods and wide angle lenses for cameras. Any camera is good for this trip so long as it digital. For yourself, please carry wollen cloths , comfortable shoes, take hats/caps, shades and sunscreen! And ofcouse a traditional outfit for the dandiya raas
Cost of entry to Garba venue is not included , to be paid separately
Dates: 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th October

Trip Fee: Rs. 10500/-
Prem. Mem Fee : Rs. 9400/- (this includes registration fee of Rs 3000 )

Please carry the balance or complete amount in cash as we have to pay cash.
Fee includes travel & group transfers, stay and meals
Feel free to call us for further clarifications @ 8826712162

The signification of Garba

Navratri, meaning ‘nine nights’, is one of the most popular and widely celebrated Hindu festivals in many parts of India. Gujarat, however, is the only state that erupts into a nine-night dance festival, perhaps the longest in the world. Each night, all over the state, villages and cities alike, people gather in open spaces to celebrate feminine divinity, referred to as Shakti.

The dance form known as ras garba (also joined sometimes by dandiya, which uses small wooden sticks), comes from Lord Krishna’s worship rather than Goddess worship, from the Gop culture of Saurashtra and Kutch. Stories of relationships between Krishna and the Gopis, and their emotions, also often make their way into the ras garba music.

Nevertheless, the focal point of every garba circle is the small Goddess shrine erected by each community to mark the beginning of the festival, on the first day of the Hindu month of Ashwin. The shrine includes a garbo, an earthenware pot, in which a betel nut, coconut, and silver coin are placed.

Each night the village or urban neighborhood gathers to perform a puja to one of the nine forms of Goddess. The nine nights are also broken up into sections of three; the first is for Durga, the goddess who destroyed an evil force represented by the demon Mahishasura, and who destroys human impurities; the second is for Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity; the third is for Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom and art. It is a time to celebrate fertility and the monsoon harvest, represented by a mound of fresh soil in which grains are sown.

After the puja begins the music; it is unmistakable to those who are familiar with the style and irresistible to many. People begin to dance in a circle, whirling away till late into the night. It is not uncommon to find dancers with swords or lit flames and other spectacles.

The traditional dance steps are simple, though over the years people have been inventing more complex steps. Similarly, the music was traditionally acoustic, principally composed of drums and singing, but most people now use amplified sound systems or a blend in the form of a live band with modern instruments.

 

Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk Pune 2016

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http://worldwidephotowalk.com/walk/old-pune-city/

Date/Time

Saturday, October 1st, 2016 | 3:45pm – 5:45pm

Where We Will Meet

Parking lot on the Western Gate side of Shaniwar Wada

Where The Walk Will End

Parking Lot on the Eastern Gate side of Shaniwar Wada

About This Walk

This photo walk will take us through the oldest part of Pune City, on the right bank of Mutha river. It will begin from Shaniwar Wada and pass through parts of Budhwar Peth and Kasba Peth. On this walk you will see:

  • Shaniwar Wada (1730-1732)
  • Amruteshwar Mandir (1760)
  • Nana Wada (1803)
  • Kasba Ganpati Mandir
  • Muzumdar Wada (1740-1760)
  • Tambat Ali (copper craft precinct)
  • 17th Century wadas
  • alis, bols, gallis (streets)
  • Vernacular brickwork; stone and timber jallis; wood windows; doors and brackets; cast and wrought iron railings; ganesh patti

All the above apart from giving you nostalgia of a bygone era and visual delight also present excellent photo opportunities. The footpaths will be bustling with people rushing about and street hawkers selling a variety of wares.

Walkers must carry water bottles, wear caps and also carry rain capes/jackets this time of the year. Sidewalks are narrow and streets are busy with traffic. Two hours walk time is sufficient to cover the route of the walk at a leisurely pace with enough time to take pictures. Thus there is no hurry and  walkers must take utmost  care while walking to avoid accidents.

Walkers must avoid using personal vehicles to reach the venue as all of you know the lack of parking facilities particularly in old city area. Please try and use public transport, auto rickshaws or cabs. However if you do use personal transport limited parking facilities are available inside the two gates of Shaniwar Wada, PMC Parking facility is available opposite the main gate of Mahatama Phule Market(Bhaji Mandai) and a car parking is available on the left as you cross the P.M.C. Bhawan Bridge, opposite the Amruteshwar Mandir.

We request you, that in case due to any unforeseen circumstances, you are unable to attend the event, please immediately log in to the walk site and click on the ‘leave walk’ option, so that somebody else who is keen can attend the walk, as we have a strict limitation of 50 persons for the walk.

And finally we request all persons registered for the walk to please check once a week or at least a couple of days before the walk for latest updates. The walk venue being old city area, busy with traffic and people, we have to seek permission from the local police authorities, to hold a walk in this area. We will be approaching the local police authorities shortly and do not envisage any problem. However if for any reason, including the permission not forth coming, we are forced to shift the venue of the walk to a venue where such permission is not required, we shall update this information on the walk site immediately.

Scott Kelby Worldwide Photo Walk 2016 New Delhi powered by DPC

wwpw_2016
Scott Kelby Worldwide photowalk 2016 powered by DPC
1-The walk is on Saturday, 01st October and will start from the entrance of Humayun’s Tomb main gate at 4:00 pm, and will end at 6.00 pm.
2-May we request you to be on time to start the walk in time.
3-This HPW will be a combination of interesting and unknown facts about the tomb and Indian history. For this, we will have a trained walk leader with us.
Ways to reach:
5-By car: From the round about intersection of the Lodhi Road and Mathura Road take the the small road which is called the Bharat Scouts and Guide marg and head towards the parking. It is best to park the car at Bharat Scouts n Guige Marg. It being a morning time, it is possible it may take some time before you get the parking. So coming a little early helps.
6-By metro: Jawahar Lal Stadium metro station and a auto rickshaw ride from there.
Kindly note
7-There is no fee or payment of any sorts for the walk or tickets; It is on us :). However, ticket for camera etc., to enter any specific monument will have to be borne by the individual.
8-Any sort of soliciting or promoting any product or service among the photowalkers is a strict NO. These photowalks are to encourage amateurs and beginners to come out and enjoy photography, please help us maintain the spirit.
9-Some people want to help us. There are two ways,
      a-tell about the club to as many of your friends as possible and ask them to join us either on the Facebook page (look for Delhi Photography Club, non-profit organization) when you search on Facebook
      b-send us photos clicked in the walk so that we may upload them in the club’s album to virendra@delhiphotographyclub.com
10-Please bring your water bottles, shades, and wear comfortable shoes.
For any clarifications, call  Virendra 8826712162

About Humayun’s Tomb

Humayun died in 1556, and his widow Hamida Banu Begam, also known as Haji Begam, commenced the construction of his tomb in 1569, fourteen years after his death. It is the first distinct example of proper Mughal style, which was inspired by Persian architecture. It is well known that Humayun picked up the principles of Persian architecture during his exile, and he himself is likely to have planned the tomb, although there is no record to that effect. The tomb was constructed at a cost of 15 lakh rupees (1.5 million).

Mirak Mirza Ghiyath, a Persian, was the architect employed by Haji Begam for this tomb.

The tomb proper stands in the centre of a square garden, divided into four main parterres by causeways (charbagh), in the centre of which ran shallow water-channels. The high rubble built enclosure is entered through two lofty double-storeyed gateways on the west and south. A baradari (pavilion) occupies the centre of the eastern wall and a hammam (bath chamber) in the centre of northern wall.

The square red sandstone double-storeyed structure of the mausoleum with chamfered corners rises from a 7-m. high square terrace, raised over a series of cells, which are accessible through, arches on each side. The grave proper in the centre of this cell-complex is reached by a passage on the south. The octagonal central chamber contains the cenotaph, and the diagonal sides lead to corner-chambers which house the graves of other members of the royal family. Externally each side of the tomb, its elevations decorated by marble borders and panels, is dominated by three arched alcoves, the central one being the highest. Over the roof pillared kiosks are disposed around the high emphatic double dome in the centre. The central octagonal chamber contains the cenotaph, encompassed by octagonal chambers at the diagonals and arched lobbies on the sides. Their openings are closed with perforated screens. Each side is dominated by three arches, the central one being the highest. This plan is repeated on the second storey too. The roof surmounted by a double dome (42.5m) of marble has pillared kiosks (chhatris) placed around it.

The mausoleum is a synthesis of Persian architecture and Indian traditions-the former exemplified by the arched alcoves, corridors and the high double dome, and the latter by the kiosks, which give it a pyramidal outline from distance. Although Sikandar Lodi’s tomb was the first garden-tomb to be built in India, it is Humayun’s tomb which set up a new vogue, the crowning achievement of which is the Taj at Agra. There is also a somewhat common human impetus behind these two edifices-one erected by a devoted wife for her husband and the other by an equally or more devoted husband for his wife.

Several rulers of the Mughal dynasty lie buried here. Bahadur Shah Zafar had taken refuge in this tomb with three princes during the first war of Independence (AD 1857).

On the southwestern side of the tomb is located barber’s tomb (Nai-ka-Gumbad) which stands on a raised platform, reached by seven steps from the south. The building is square on plan and consists of a single compartment covered with a double-dome.

Open from sunrise to sunset

DPC announces next photo trip to Lucknow 17 & 18 Sep

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DPC is going to Lucknow to explore the food and heritage

We are happy to announce our next DPC Photo Trip

Lucknow, for a 2 day- 3 nights trip. We are going by train(3 tier).

Keeping in mind our love for foodand photography, this trip will be a mix of Mughalai and Awadhi cuisine and Mughal architecture

About Lucknow

Avadh is claimed to be among the most ancient of Hindu states. According to popular legend, Ramchandra of Ayodhya, the hero of the Ramayana, gifted the territory of Lucknow to his devoted brother Lakshman after he had conquered Sri Lanka and completed his term of exile in the jungle. Therefore, people say that the original name of Lucknow was Lakshmanpur, popularly known as Lakhanpur or Lachmanpur.

The city of Ayodhya itself, forty miles away from Lakshmanpur, was reported to be full of great riches: “Its streets, well arranged, were refreshed with ceaseless streams of water ~ its walls, variously ornamented, resembled the checkered surface of a chess-board. It was filled with merchants, dramatists, elephants, horses and chariots. The cloud of fragrant incense darkened the sun at noonday: but the glowing radiance of the resplendent diamonds and jewels that adorned the persons of the ladies relieved the gloom!..” (Ramayana).

The ancient metropolis of Ayodhya was situated on the banks of the Ghagra, a river as wide as the Ganges at Chunar and its extensive ruins can still be seen. There is no record of when and how Ayodhya came to be deserted or allowed to decay :  the legend is that Rama ascended to heaven, carrying with him all the population of the place. So large had the city been that Lakshmanpur was described as its suburb!

We are going by train.

Travel Details

16th Sep (Friday)

Start from Delhi in a train at 11.00 pm on Friday.

Overnight journey

17th Sep (Sat)

Reach Lucknow at 8.30 am

Photographing Lucknow

Visiting Imambara & la Martenier

18th Sep (Sunday)

Photographing Local and Old city of Nababs

New Lucknow

Start from Lucknow at 11 pm

19th Sep (Monday)

Reach delhi at 8.00 am

 

For non-members:5800

For members: 5400

Fee includes, boarding, lodging, group transfers.

Registration Amount is non-transferable and non refundable if the participant cancels trip.

To register www.delhiphotographyclub.com/register