Security guards in India

These are photographs of security guards in India. There has been a huge increase in security guards in the last decade or so, mostly due to fear of terrorism. Mostly these guards are untrained, and unable to spot trouble-makers. They are hopeless at finding dangerous weapons as numerous checks have shown. These guards are better at finding food items (as wanted by multiplex owners) than guns! It's amazing how they scrounge around with their dirty fingers in the tiniest of pockets looking for that single piece of candy or biscuit!

This picture shows a security guard employed by MacDonalds near the exit of a Drivethru. He is standing casually at the exit.

This is a security guard of a small building. He looks relaxed, and he is! He doesn't ask you where you are going, and where you are coming from! Such guards are common in most housing societies and are untrained.

These security guards at a high-end mall note down car numbers. They are "trained" by the private security agencies which recruit them, but not sure how well they are trained. Or what exactly they are supposed to do except regulate the traffic at the parking lot.

These guards at another mall make a perfunctory check of the dickey of the car. They won't be able to find a bomb or gun to save their life!

Cinema theatres also use the guards to prevent people from taking in throat lozenges, candy or even medicines! However tiny the food item is, and however necessary for your health, it's not allowed. They also force you to feed unhygienic food from the cinema counters (made without gloves and with flies on it) even to your toddlers! They also prefer it if you cough and disturb others rather than allow you to take your throat tablets inside.

The Tarpa Wind Instrument of Indian Tribes

The Tarpa wind instrument is played as an accompanied to the Tarpa dance which is usually performed during the harvest season. It is a joyous time.Tarpa is a folk dance of the rural and tribal people of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and surrounding rural and semi-rural areas in Maharashtra, India. The Tarpa is popular amongst tribal groups like Kokna, Varli/Warli and Kolis.
The tribal people make this musical instrument themselves out of the material available in the forest. Bamboo sticks and gourd is used to make it. The Tarpa musical instrument makes a sweet sound that is akin to the melody played by a snake charmer.

The musical instrument which is portrayed in this photographs is the authentic one used by the tribes and is made by them.

Related Images: Photos of the paintings and art of the Varli or Warli people: Warli Paintings Photographs
Or pictures of Adivasi Dancers from Matheran
Or check out a photograph of a musician playing a rather large wind instrument in the London Metro: Musician in the London Metro

Trams and Tramlines in Zurich Switzerland

These are pictures of trams running in Zurich, Switzerland. The network covers almost the whole city of Zurich. The first tram was introduced in 1882 and is now run by the city government. The tram system in Zurich has served as a model for other European cities.
This photograph shows a tram turning a corner next to a hotel and tourist centre in Zurich.

This photograph shows the overhead electric system of the tram which has halted at a busy tram-stop in Zurich. The Paradeplatz is a famous Square in Zurich.
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This shows a network of tram rail lines at a busy intersection.

Related Images: Swiss Traffic Police at work or Zurich Railway Station or Zurich city - bridges, river, people and buildings
Or check out other photos on Switzerland

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Ganpati at Night

These are photographs of Ganesh idols at pandals by the various Ganpati mandals. These are Ganesha decorations at night with different types of lighting
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The pandals are decorated with a mandap or canopy and decorated by fancy psychedelic electric lights at night. People go from pandal to pandal, looking at the pretty decorated Ganesh idols. Whole cities are lighted up, particularly Pune. All these pictures are taken in Pune. While these decorations are pretty and entertaining, one wonders how much money is spent at these pandals. People in surrounding areas donate the money, either willingly or unwillingly.

At this pandal the ganesh idol on the stage is bathed in red light. This light changes colour every half a minute, bathing the idol in colours like yellow, blue and red. A man and his small son look on fascinated. This is great entertainment for the man on the street!

Not just people on the street, the middle classes also love the lighted up Ganpatis! In this picture, a man is taking a photo of the Ganesh idol at the lighted up pandal. These colours keep changing.

These electric lights keep changing colour and design.

The same Ganpati as above, but this time the lights have changed to yellow and orange and the pattern is different. People have gathered around, hypnotized by the changing and moving electric lights.

The next two pictures are of the same Ganesh Pandal, the psychedelic  lights changing their hue and pattern every second. People also worship the Ganesh.

People stand around for a long time, watching these sights.

The next two images are of the same ganesh pandal. The lights keep moving and changing their colours.

A comparatively simpler Ganpati pandal, with psychedelic lights.

Related Images: Ganpati or Ganesh sketches or Ganesh Pandal decorations on the streets
More related photos: Indian cities lit up at night with Diwali lights or a Priest performing a Pooja or Hanuman Temple
For religious symbols from Hinduism: Swastika graphics from India or Paduka or Guru's feet or or Shiva Pindi or Lingam

Wine bottles and a wine bar

These are pictures of wine in bottles. These are different types or wine made by the Sula company at Nasik. the photographs were shot on a visit to their factory and the vineyards.

This is a bar with wine bottles of different hue. A wine bar.

Wine bottles are best kept horizontally. They are kept here in a showcase at the factory.

These are bottles of red wine.

Related Images: Alcohol and hard drinks photographs or Beer shops in small towns in India or Beer in jugs, bottles, and glasses

Eunuchs of India - Pictures

These are photographs of some Eunuchs or Transvestites on the streets of Mumbai. They are also called Hijras in India, and the ordinary public fears them. This is because the hijras often browbeat you at traffic signals, hit on your car windows and demand money. People in air-conditiioned cars get away easily but those on two-wheelers and traveling in rickshaws or cabs are forced to shell out money. The Hijras also arrive at homes and make a racket, forcing people to pay up. They are not shy of humiliating you if you don't pay.

On the other hand, not all the eunuchs are aggressive. Their lot is actually very sad as they are deprived of basic human rights (which often forces them to beg). No one wants to give them jobs.

This is a eunuch in a pink saree. She is one of the good-tempered hijras I have come across. She just giggled shyly when I took out my camera. Indeed, she came across as a gentle soul.

This eunuch was quite aggressive and showed annoyance when I tried to photograph her. However it was a sure-fire way to get rid of the hijra beggar! A street kid selling flowers looks on curiously as I take the photograph. Something very very sad in the eyes of the street kid. He was not with the hijra, just a lone little boy going from car to car selling flowers.

The eunuch has turned her attention to another car, and is begging for alms. The boy now looks at me even more curiously. His eyes tell a story of sadness and pain. More poignant eyes I have not seen!

Another hijra begging at a traffic signal.

Related Images: Destitutes and beggars - portraits of old men or Old Women Destitutes and Beggars or Disabled Beggars

Basilica Cistern

The Basilica Cistern is an ancient water storage plant which lies underground in the city of Istanbul, in Turkey (formerly Constantinople). The cistern was built in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I and it provided a water filtration system for the royals of Constantinople and other buildings. It is now a tourist attraction. It is a fascinating place! Tourists can walk all around it and inbetween, on platforms built at the cistern.

The area is about 9,800 square metres (105,000 sq ft) and this storage space can hold 80,000 cubic metres (2,800,000 cu ft) of water.