While I was waiting for our street-food tour to start, I saw a small roadside temple. It was literally a room in somebody’s house. I was invited in (without shoes, of course), and I was able to partake in and observe the Puja (praying). Along with everybody else, I received a blessing from the Pandit, or priest. It was a very beautiful experience.
Goddess Lakshmi (I think!
Receiving blessings
Making offerings
Here are some more shots of the Kolkata streets.
This egg seller gave me a huge smile when I took this pic, and was delighted when I showed him the photo on the back of my camera.
A bakery.
Streetwise barber shop, I love the old barber chair.
One of the many tricycle “trucks”, this is in Kumartuli street, where many of the icons of the Hindu Gods are made, in particular of Goddess Durga.
An artist painting detail onto one of the idols.
Some of the interesting people I stumbled upon in Kolkata
A Swami, I think?
A vendor
Taking some time out outside the house
Sneaking a peek
Cricket anybody!
India is an amazing country for street photography. You can walk anywhere in Kolkata and find interesting shots,
These were taken in a night market that was in full swing,. Hot and crowded, but exciting.
Supply deliveries on a bicycle-driven trailer
Who would have thought? Lois and I went to watch the IPL in Kolkata. It was like a rock concert, one of the most amazing things I’ve ever been to, and this is from somebody that doesn’t watch cricket? But alas, my team KKR (Kolkata Knight Riders) lost the game to the Delhi Capitals. I had to have a team, and well, I was in Kolkata.
Our new friends, a group of students in the row behind us, insisted on taking some selfies with us at the IPL.
I love visiting food markets when I travel, and Kolkata is a treat for the senses.
We start off with Indian desserts, most of the Indian desserts I had were made from a condensed milk bass, a little like shortbread, but much richer.
A blessing in one of the many small restaurants
Pani Puri, you can full them with just about anything
Although the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata, built in honour of Queen Victoria is a relic of the colonial British era, it’s still lovely to visit. It’s a quiet oasis from the busy and noisy city, and you will see plenty of locals and tourists walking the gardens, or visiting the cool interior.
In India, you constantly see a mixture of colonial heritage, Hindu tradition and the modern city. It’s confusing yet somehow seems to work. I suspect that no matter how often you travel to India, you’ll never fully understand India.
Mother’s House, (the full name is “Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata), is a humble yet profound place. It’s where Mother Teresa lived and worked, dedicating her life to the poor. The building itself is modest, with simple rooms and a peaceful atmosphere, reflecting the simplicity and compassion that defined her mission. It’s a very quiet and peaceful break from the noise of the city.
You can visit Mother Teresa’s tomb and bedroom, and there is a small museum about her life. We had a wonderful conversation with this lovely sister at Mother’s house, and she graciously allowed us to take a photo with her.
The Howrah Bridge spans the Hooghly River in Kolkata, a familiar sight for commuters and locals. Its cantilever structure, built in 1943, supports daily traffic without using any nuts or bolts, an astonishing engineering accomplishment. This somewhat cliched angle is from the Mullick Ghat Flower Market, which I’ll post about later.
If you’ve watched “Band of Brothers”, you know of Major Dick Winters. He was known for his leadership of Easy-Company, part of 101st Airborne Division, throughout the Normandy campaign. And if you have not watched “Band of Brothers”, I highly recommend it as a very accurate telling of the story of Easy-Company. Better yet, read the book.
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