Pictures : Celebrating the colourful festival of Holi

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Dear friends,

Happy Holi!

This year, I’ll share few more pictures from Braj Holi, the most colourful version of Holi, that is celebrated in a group of small villages around Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh. For those who have no idea about this festival can read everything about it in the story I did for Hindustan Times.

You can read it here :
http://www.khagta.com/travelogue/cover-story-the-braj-holi-legend-in-real-life/

Hope you like them.

Cheers!

Drummer drenched in colors performing the ritual of Samaaj in Barsana during the festival of holi

Drummer drenched in colors performing the ritual of Samaaj in Barsana during the festival of holi

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3623kms in Ladakh on a Farm Tractor

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So last year we went on a rather unusual journey. We took a farm tractor 3623 kms across Ladakh through the most dangerous roads, highest passes and random rivers. In the end it also got two of my team members a Limca World Record (not me as I didn’t have a tractors license) after we completed the journey in just fourteen days. Unfortunately, the journey could not be documented properly as I had an accident at Drass were my right shoulder got dislocated while climbing the tractor. I used my phone to take most of the pictures.

The Vehical

65hp 3065DI tractor by Indo Farm

65hp 3065DI tractor by Indo Farm

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Snowfall in the Himalayan town of Shimla – Part I

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17th January, 2013
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India

After a month of clear sunny days, it was raining when I got up. I trusted the weather gods and the Norwegian Meteorological Institute for a day long snowfall. They were right and it was beautiful. So, here are some pictures for those who missed it.

I would also like to thank my friend, Aasheesh Mehta who saved me and my camera with his umbrella while I was shooting in the blizzard, during the first day of snowfall.

I am posting the first batch of images as I am leaving for the Allahabad in the morning for the Maha Kumbh Mela. More pictures will follow.

Hope you like them.

Cheers!

Kids stop to pose while playing at the ridge, Shimla as it starts to snow.

Kids stop to pose while playing at the ridge, Shimla as it starts to snow.


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Rural Central India for two months

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The Nirmal Bharat Yatra venue at Sewagram, Wardha, Maharashtra

The Nirmal Bharat Yatra venue at Sewagram, Wardha, Maharashtra

I am back to the hills after spending almost two months in central Indian villages with WASH United. The following paragraphs will have a brief info about the yatra and a summary of what is was about. You can always visit the main website for detailed information.

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Flight to Ladakh that landed in Kullu Valley

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After spending half of my winters in Delhi, I realized that its not cold enough. So, I tried to book my tickets to the nearest Hill Station, Leh, the capital of the Ladakh region. Soon I found out that there were no flights for the day I wanted to leave, so I got tickets from Chandigarh instead. So now my journey time was increased by five hours and had join my friends from Kurukshtra as the bus journey takes five hours to reach Chandigarh.

Towards Chandigarh

So we reached Chandigarh airport on time but the check-in counters were closed. We waited. We had our breakfast and then we waited again. There were many flights being delayed because of fog at Chandigarh. The airlines soon sent me a text saying that even our flight was delayed for another hour. Meanwhile, the clock struck 10 and the commodities market opened. Both of my friends got busy in their cellphones and practiced their money making skills. Soon the passengers started getting anxious but we were busy in the ups and lows of the indices. The flight was further delayed for two hours. One of our friend canceled his plan to Leh and went home. After waiting for four hours. The check in counters were opened and we got our boarding passes at 2 pm. We waited again.  Finally, we boarded the plane at 2:30 pm and then started our journey to Leh.

The Great Himalayan Mountain Range at Ladakh in Winters (Himanshu Khagta)

The Great Himalayan Mountain Range at Ladakh in Winters (Himanshu Khagta)

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