Lokrang at Bhopal

25th year of Lokrang - Lokrang Samaroh is organized every year in the month of January in Bhopal started today. This five day festival is based on the rich tribal and folk tradition of India.

On Republic Day eve

Raj Bhawan and Vidhan Sabha, Bhopal on the eve of Republic day (pic - Jan 25, 2009 night)

Solar eclipse from Bhopal

Pictures of Longest Solar eclipse which had dazzled India, as seen from Bhopal.

Pictures courtesy A. M. Faruqui

Camels at Biaora

Camels enjoying themselves while camle breeders look on. They have been left for grazing by camel breeders  at Biaora in Rajgarh district of MP.

Fog on Guna Bhopal highway

This picture was taken on Friday morning when the visibility on Guna - Bhopal highway was nearly zero and it was chilly morning, but this could not deter these women to fetch for woods which is a need to run their houses.

Rose exhibition opens in Bhopal

Rose exhibition opens today at Bhopal. It will be officially opened by Mayor of Bhopal today evening. About 2000 enteries are participating in it. The painting competition of the school children is being introduced for the first time in 29th All India Rose Show, coupled with several competitions related to floriculture at the Government Rose Garden. This is being jointly organised by Madhya Pradesh Rose Society and Directorate of Horticulture. The competitions scheduled from January 2-9, have already started.

Tuhar Dal is Rs 45 per kg here !

Women separating dal from the other waste at Tarawata Village in Guna district of Madhya Pradesh. They sell this to pulse traders at Rs 45 per kg who then polishes it, and is available at Retail for Rs 90 per kg at Bhopal !

Marble rocks and Madan Mahal of Jabalpur

Jabalpur is surrounded by low, rocky and barren hillocks, which geologists and archaeologists can feast upon. When you are in Jabalpur you should visit Madan Mahal, a fort built by Gond Raja Madan Shah, on a top of a rocky hill. This fort dominates the skyline and provides a panoramic view of the town and the open countryside around it.

Jabalpur is also known for its marble rocks. On the bank of the river Bhedaghat, Narmada, lie these marble rocks, in all their splendour, adding name and fame to Jabalpur. On either side of the Narmada are white saccharine limestone rocks intertwined with dark green and black volcanic rocks. These marble-white pinnacles sparkle in the sunlight and cast dappled shadows on the pellucid waters – a glorious spectacle indeed! People here say that on a full moon-lit night, it is even more enticing although I did not get a chance to view it on a full moon-lit night.

Bhopal mela

19th Bhopal mela was inaugrated yesterday evening at at Dusshera Maidan, TT Nagar, Bhopal. It is expected that it will about 500 stall, though many are still under preparation. The mela which started yesterday will go upto Feb 7, 2009. The Bhopal Mela Utsav Samiti has constructed a replica of Akshardhaam temple at one end of the Mela ground, which will attract many. Mela as usual will have regular stalls of bangle sellers, eateries, toys, crockery, handlooms and showrooms of FMCG brands. One of the stall in mela also offers an oportunity to learn magic in 2 mts !!, (no gurantees on this !).  Mela is one of the major attraction to its  visitors from Bhopal and districts nearby Bhopal during winters.

Child labour at mela is painful - Inspite of all its offers, one feels pained to see rampant child labour at the mela. Be it stall owners where one can see young boys working or are serving tea and eateries to the stall owners. At an age when they should be enjoying mela, be on the 'merry go rounds' they loose their childhood serving at mela. Indeed painful.