Temperate Grasslands.

BIHU IN BAGICHA GAON ,ASSAM

nolimits — Thu, 15 May 2014 04:11:51 GMT

I will never forget the day when I went to celebrate Rangali Bihu(A harvest festival)in its purest form in Bihpuria,a village in Assam,India.I went there with a friend of mine,she was a native of that place.Termed as“Goru(Cow)bihu”(the first day of Rongali Bihu dedicated to cattle worship).It starts in the early morning where a village men take their cattle for a bath in the river.Usually women don’t go there as the men & boys throw “Saat” in them &it’s quite painful(Saat is the combination of vegetables that the people throw to their cattle so that they become big, healthy and productive).It is believed that if a person is hit with it than for a full year s/he will live a healthy & illness free life.My friend was reluctant to go,but for my sake she had to & as a result we were severely hit by it.But it was fun as in return we threw at them too.In the meantime the cows were taken by their owner to the river Dikrong &started to wash them with maah-halodhi (black gram and turmeric paste), whipped dighloti (a plant with long leaf), makhioti (a plant with flower like soft plastic butter-fly) and threw pieces of lau (bottle gourd)& bengena (brinjal).I no longer could be a silent spectator and so jumped into the river.I started to wash the cows myself , threw vegetables on them & sang the traditional songs (which are themed after the wellness of cows)whole heartedly.I washed more than 5 cows &a funny incident followed after that.A pair of cows,one black&the other white was brought inside the water,I was not aware that the black cow kicked people. Not knowing the fact I was happily washing them, rubbing their skin with maah-halodhi & all of a sudden, the black cow kicked me on my waist. It wasn't that strong, as the impact of the kick was less inside the water,but the imprint of the kick stayed till 7 days. But I really had lots of fun.Later the old ropes tied to the necks of the cattle were removed & they were set free to roam anywhere according to their will. As the day was about to end, the cattle owners brought their cattle in a ceremonial walk back home.A burning rice barn was placed in the entrance to create smoke and the cows are adorned with garlands with the collection of different kind of leaves along with their new ropes.After they enter home aromatic oils are massaged into the whole body and horn &are feed pitha (Assamese sweets) while they were fanned with handheld fans.The whole process was a very wonderful experience that I will cherished for ever.

Photos: My Photo scholarship 2011 entry

nolimits — Fri, 4 Nov 2011 21:03:00 GMT

Hi my name is Moramee Das,Im a Tae kwon do black belt,Swimmer,Cyclist,Triathlete and Aquathelete .Beside that, I'm a freelance writer and photography is my hobby.I'm a Masters in English and think that literature is such a subject where things can be interpreted and explored in relevant sense to different level of understanding.In photography also i see the same connection even-though the logical sense can be erased.I don’t possess an D-SLR but the moment I get a job will sure buy one.I got a Nikon L -100 a Compact camera and make the best use of it by experimenting it in different way I can.Basically I prefer nature and wildlife but in near future will sure experiment with street photography and portraiture etc.One thing I like about photography is that it captures the extraordinary in the ordinary;it is like the genie’s bottle :that creates and the photographer becomes a :semi God. The photos I have sent in the competition are raw. It was a Diwali (festival of lights) time in the month of October2011 in India, in this festive occasion people light up their houses and this is the best part ,the entire streets are lighten up.As I was strolling to get some snaps of my neighborhood…..the pictures came out to be blurred,but when I shooked the camera a bit -it gave a different look.So these photographs are the result of an experimentation on the Diwali night .And as per as questioned :my photographs should be selected because It contains experimentation,radicalness,flexibility,interpretation,creativity&change …. And just to note that it is a total work of an amateur photographer………………i hope u will like it?

“An extended holiday”

nolimits — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 23:45:00 GMT

This was my trip for 2 days, I went there to attend my cousins wedding but ended up staying 4 days although I had targets to meet in my way back home. On 14th July evening I went to my maternal uncle’s place in Khetri. I stayed there the night.....I mean: i just slept there because the moment I reached there I took my uncles daughter and strolled all about the place ...I just loved visiting peoples places....I had the urged to eat my favorite "malpuwas" which I got without any request from one of my visits ...the next morning one of my uncle came to take me to the wedding. It was a two hours journey. Although we had taken the wrong road we manage to get there safely… it was in Nogaon, a place in upper Assam. Literally we enjoyed the wedding and I cancelled my plan to go back to my uncle’s house instead I went with the marriage party (without any extra clothes) to their home after the marriage ended with so called "pomp and pageantry" .It was late at night when we were returning to MIKIR BHETA, a small village in Morigaon I found something enthralling, the road was nice, fine and curvy….and above all a slight breeze was blowing with the beautiful moon looking at us. The place was very lonely, vast, green open fields adorning the sides of the road and suddenly the vehicle were all we “bride’s family” were coming went real silent. We all were soaked in the rays of the moon …it was so luxurious .Time passed by, we reached home ,after some refreshment we all sat in the lawn …where I have above me not tall buildings like in Guwahati but the open sky …all open only for me …..The only delight for me. I thought this is now or never and at the same time I made up my mind to stay longer. I waited till the next morning to inform my parents about my decision.

The very next morning as I was having morning tea with my jetha and family in the courtyard .I suddenly had a feeling about something known….déjà vu….no it was not that, because I have visited this place 8 years ago. The weather suddenly became cloudy and I sensed the feeling of something orient. All were chatting but I was immersed in the feeling …I wanted that feeling ,that surrounding to go on and on until it lasted …it made me feel something related to “Shangri-la”. A thought all in my mind that yearned me always after I read the book “The Lost Horizon” by James Hilton in 2002.It made me think of that monastery of the far east but I was interrupted by my sweet niece.

“Let’s go for a ride” she said excitingly so what I did I took my dada’s Activa and both went for a ride. And as usual people start staring at us because in that village girls rode only bicycle not two wheelers and that too in “mekhela-chaddar”. We rode in 60 kmph. The road was sleek and fine but too many speed breakers. According to my niece every household asked for a speed breaker. I smile and thought that was pretty amazing..And the PWD people didn’t denied too.

The road was long, we rode, gust of wind brush our faces, we enjoyed it specially my niece who was standing in front of me holding the bars of the handle. The roads were adorned by green green fields far and wide along with the beautiful blue skies .Its so contrasting with the city life ,people here are running for money ,so hectic life .Unlike in villages, people are so much at ease, so simple there life is, no facebook ,no twitter neither orkut.serene calm. We stop the bike on the side of the road and sat in the grass along with some cows grazing. During that time I found peace .I don’t know what kind of peace that was: but it was peace, serene………..

That very evening we had an appointment with my second cousins: Jyotiprasad and Bisnuprasad although they were not those “great men” of our Assamese History but they had great hearts .Jyotiprasad was the shy one but Bisnuprasad was our tour guide for the evening .The last time I visited Mikirbheta, we were kids then we used to ride cycles all over the place and we would visit some abandoned Shiva temple beneath the trees. Those were some days J…

He was very excited to take us to that ashram that still holds some spiritual power. But the route to there was real tough. The genuine route was blocked by rainwater, shrubs and now we had to take the less travelled once : it was through the cultivation of jute plants we have to get there ….we all had to scratch those spider webs..uuhhh all plants, insects all over our body. The moment we to reach there we washed ourselves with the water from the well, it was so cold. Suddenly the place was calm and “santi” seem to prevail. We went to the place where a man or the guru who discovered it was now resting in the grave .It is said that the guru puts his “khorom” and take a walk of the whole ashram at night .People staying there hears the sound of his “khorom” every night. I was amazed that people in Hindu culture are burned in pyre but this man was not ,he was just buried (maybe for some beliefs).

We went to see the pond and my God! It was full of lotuses. There were trees surrounding the pond .Actually we came through the backside of the ashram and when we went to see the entrance I was shocked it as so so “antique” , broken scriptures, huge trees welcoming the people and as the sun was almost setting we saw people coming from the fields with “jakhoi “ in their hands .

“What a lovely shot that was?”

After that we meet the supervisor there who is looking after the ashram since 30 years .He told that no one knows who made this ashram or the mandir. But the art of sculptures that one sees is very amazing .It is said that it is a “jagrata mandir” because when one gives “Saki/Deepak” in front of a specific “shiv-parvati idol” it glooms itself. There a kind of light that emits from the stone idol itself. I was very amazed. The whole experience was awesome until a phone rang: our relatives asked us to hurry as it was starting to become dark and there are “evilspirits” in the fields so we have to run home through that jute cultivation that literally hurts our faces.

The next morning I have to reach my uncles place so that the very evening I return home. Although I reached my uncles place I decided not to go home. Me and again my cousin we went for a walk in the evening and while returning visited a relative place. There I came to know about “The History of Dimoria”: the very place where my mother was born and which I will continue in my next post. The next morning I returned home …and was very tired as the whole journey I didn’t get any seat to sit. A journey from Khetri to Guwahati: 50 kms which means to be 1 hr journey but because it was under construction I had to feel heaven…..and that is how I ended my planed and yet unplanned journey……

Photos: "My Extended Journey"

nolimits — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 04:36:00 GMT

plz refer to my post with the same name

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

nolimits — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 23:12:00 GMT

the photographs uploaded here were not 'exactly what i expected'.i went for something else and ended with something else .i was on a sanctuary with my cousin but as the forest official didn't allowed us to go, so we had to take another route where-----------we had to walk against the waterfall.meeting with some locals there we explored the lower parts of the forest.with these photos i want to show that there are many places in Guwahati that are left to be exposed. I always wanted to make ordinary things extraordinary and here i think i have done it. i think i should be selected in this scholarship because i have the zeal of going to the deepest aspect of photography (although i didnt had any training in this field i secured a second position in inter state level).i think this scholarship will take out my skills to another level. i m prepared for any situation and im sincere in my work .As im an triathlete and tae kwon do blackbelt i think that this quality will help me in my passion for photography .i love adventure and can go to any limit .i am an explorer by nature .so i think im quite perfect for this *nature and wildlife photography* stuff.

"An Unplanned Journey"

nolimits — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 12:45:00 GMT

hIt was a rainy morning but I loved the way it was .I remember some photographer telling that “you should experiment with any kind of weather” .I climb in the bus .I was listening to the soothing music of Robert Plant and it reminded me of the hills and the mountains and Shangri la. I reached my destination. But to get to my final destination I had to take a rickshaw to my cousin’s place because he had quite a good idea about its surrounding. As I climb up the rickshaw …I felt the breeze brushing my face .I relaxed until I saw the hills full of light clouds .It was so near to me and so green and beautiful. But I don’t know why I resist my self by not taking a snap of it. Finally I got my cousins place .He was ready. We headed towards the mountains with essential things. We climbed the mountains...it was a hardwork for me .But for him it was a daily kind of job as he usually come here to spend his time with his thoughts .He kept on climbing it. The road was muddy…but I was amazed to see such density in a forest that too in Guwahti. My cousin said to me : “I think only in this part of Guwahati where you will find forest and also cultivation” .When I last visited his place it was full cultivation(3--4 yrs ago) but now 2/3^rd was of the cultivation full of houses. We kept on climbing in the mountain until we met a man who was brushing his teeth and asked about ourselves.

“She my cousin and we have come to take photographs”; my cousin brother said

I nodded with him. And the man said well “you have to take permission from the Ranger”

“Well then can we meet him” I said

“No you can’t, he sleeping”, he said

“Ok then while returning we will meet him”;I replied

“Ok then”

And then we were off, I was little surprise because I didn’t meet anybody here when I last came, but my cousin told that ,now this place was a wildlife sanctuary. I was happy to know that .We proceeded further, until he showed me a newly built dam .I was looking curiously at it until he showed me the next big thing. There was this big mountain full of clouds …and somebody will definitely mistake it for Tawang and yes it was a marvelous sight to see. And after appreciating the nature beauty we went to the Ganesh temple situated there in the rocks …but what!! It started to rain and that was awesome we had only one umbrella with us .We thought that the rain would stop. But no it didn’t it continued till 2 hours .We again thought that the forest people would come to help us but no, after two hours of rain it didn’t meant to stop…we enjoyed the rain .and I think I would be lucky to get wet in the middle of the forest .wow. We were feeling as if we two were on expedition from the national geographic. We hurried back home .that was an experience.

But we didn’t felt bad at least we got lots of pictures of a rainy season .We didn’t loose heart, we went there again the next day ,and it was quite a sunny day. But today we meet with the forest people and they started to threating us. There were four man and one lady official but not in their uniform. Out of the men the lady seems to be more strict and was showing us her power.

“Yesterday you went there, without any permission, we got such a scolding from our forest ranger and you didn’t pay the charges also” she said adamantly

“But in this office there was nobody, we meet another official there” my cousin replied

“Ok then sorry for yesterday, please let me talk to the ranger’ I said

‘No, you can’t ,he went to his home”

“Please give us his number”

“We cant, he keeps his mobile switch off when he in home”

“So now whom can I talk too”

“You can talk to me, as I’m now in-charge”

‘I said ok then tell me what m I suppose to do now’

“The D.F.O will be coming at 2pm, you can meet him or else come day after tomorrow”

“It will not be possible for me to come tomorrow, so please give me his number, I can talk to him”

She totally denied. So at last I asked

“Tell about the charges I will pay it now”

“You are not allowed, come some other day”

She seems to be so arrogant, we thought she was showing her power, well then you keep your power with yourselves

And we came out disappointedly. But you know it’s a huge forest we have other routes too. So my cousin called up his friend and we went through some other routes too difficult then before. I got some really nice shots there but not the “perfect picture”.

He felt my disappointedness, so after bidding goodbye to his friends we took another route .it was from the middle of the cultivation all greenery, we were tired and the heat was rising. But after walking all about 15 kilometers a simple sound made me refresh and it was the sound of the water fall. There we meet 3 kids .We asked them to accompany us; they were just sitting there in the silence of the wood. But here the density of woods was more. They took us to the waterfall and just imagine we walked upward the fall .There were big stones we have to put off our shoes as the stones were slippery, we walked against the waterfall until we saw a cave. Those kid s began to bath .We clicked some amazing natural shots until we were hungry …sitting in the shade we had biscuits and water. Then excitedly they took us to the downwards part of the fall and again they bathed .We really enjoyed with these guys .Now it was too late, we had to go home .We walked but just one thing struck my mind. That at last I got my perfect picture, thanks to those officials ,if they wouldn’t denied us then we can’t have this experience on the other end and I’m also sorry for them also, as because of such type of person our beauty of nature is being unexplored. They are being very strict to us but what about the trees that are always being cut and traded illegally in that forest itself .Its a shame to the whole society .They are giving orders without their uniform .What about that??? We have such a beautiful place here and those forest members should think about its upliftment …but no they were very arrogant and they want to experiment there power to us .

Moramee Das