Quiet flows the Ganges

And the madness of life continues on its banks.
Varanasi. Summer of 2009.

Images: (c) Sandeep Banerjee - All Rights Reserved

Darkness Visible

I saw the solar eclipse from Varanasi last month (on July 22). It was quite astounding. As I watched the eclipse this time, I was reminded of Milton's lines from Paradise Lost:

... yet from those flames
No light; but rather darkness visible (I. 62 - 63)

I had seen a total solar eclipse in 1996 but this year's event was grander.

Way more grand.



The eclipse made me realize just how long four minutes can be: that's how long the eclipse lasted. It took place early in the morning. Sometime past 6 am, if I am not mistaken. The birds woke up and before they knew it, it was dark again.

Were the birds feeling a tad jet-lagged from the experience?



There is something extremely awe-inspiring about a total solar eclipse. It is a celestial spectacle. And the sun (and the moon) did put up quite a show.

Take a look.


Images and Video: (c) Sandeep Banerjee - All Rights Reserved

Lessons in Lovemaking

I just got back from Calcutta, the city I grew up in. My thoughts on the city shall be for another blog post, but here is a snippet: Oxford Bookstore, Calcutta has a "Sexology" section.

Why sexology and not sex? I don't know and I suspect they don't either. The -logy probably gives the hormones and the carnality a twinge of respectability.

This was on display at the Sexology section of Oxford Bookstore, Calcutta.

What were they thinking? Clearly not a great deal. And it does say something about the city that is desperately trying to give up its ghost.

Image: (c) Sandeep Banerjee - All Rights Reserved

Elsewhere in the Himalayas

In and around North Bengal and Sikkim.
With friends.

Images: (c) Sandeep Banerjee, Arijit Sen, Shamya Dasgupta - All Rights Reserved

Lord of the Lofty Heights

Views from (and around) Tunganath.

Images: (c) Sandeep Banerjee - All Rights Reserved