Happy Ganesh Chaturthi

This one is for Ramesh :)

At home...since the past four years we bring an eco friendly Ganesh idol home. Our prior experience of immersion at Shivaji park beach was horrifying so we switched to pure clay idol. 

Sitting pretty...

This picture is very special to me. Almost 27 years ago, my dad along with his friends started this 'Adarsh Yuva Mandal' and they started the sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav in their locality. We left the place almost 19 years ago but the other founding members are carrying on the legacy. It has gone from being a small idol to a larger than life one. 

This is my last 'spinster' Ganesh Utsav. Lol. I will be married in January and will be off to Gurgaon, Haryana where my in laws reside. I hope to make it back for this festival each year with my hubby! 

Glorious Flora Fountain and The Hutatma Chowk Memorial

On my way to Colaba recently, I saw a huge crowd around Flora Fountain and realized it was some political rally. Bloody nuisance. But I guess the only good that came of it was that they spruced up the old fountain and the adjoining - Hutatma Chowk Memorial Statue. It was for the very first time that I stopped, looked around and took pictures.

The Flora Fountain

The Hutatma Chowk Memorial

Summer 2010 Part III

Awaiting a gorgeous sunset...

Colors on the shore...

Fisher men's gear..

Old Man and the sea

Summer 2010 Part II

Some reflections in the sun...

Summer 2010 Part I

Carter Road, Bandra West is one of our [him and me] favourite hangout place. We love the Cafe coffee day here. This time round I was here with friends. 

As we all prepare beat the heat, this crow here stops by to check out what else he/she can peck at.

The sea never ceases to amaze me. So many colours and so mysterious...

Just a few minutes back, I clicked the above pic and now look at the colours...

Visiting the ruins

My cousin is leaving for France for a 40-day study trip. We are both nocturnal creatures and have in the past, stayed awake the whole night and taken walks in the morning. So this time the destination was the Sion Fort. I had heard a lot about it, passed by it many times. Mom kept saying its not safe and it is ruined by vandals. But I guess, my curiosity got the better of me.

The Sion Hillock Fort is a fort in Mumbai (Bombay), India. It was built by the British Governor of Bombay Gerard Aungier atop a conical hillock. The hillock is situated a few metres from the Sion railway station. Sion was the boundary between British-held Parel island and Portuguese held Salsette Island and the castle marked the northeast boundary of their possession. The fort was built between 1669 and 1677.

While climbing up

Almost there...

Front view of the Fort. This all that is left to it now. There is some restoration going on. I am hoping for a miracle. 

While going up...its so dreamy! 

I love the green foliage!

And sun beats down on us!

Suddenly there is a rush of pink!

View from the top

Overlooking at the factories beyond.

Durga Pujo 1

Ganpati Bappa Morya!!!

Ganesh Chaturthi is my favourite festival in whole wide world! Why? Simply because it marks the beginning of all the fun! The decorations are lavish. The food is yummy and 11 days of fun!

At the workshop....

With his other pals...

And there he is finally.....

Coming home....

Govinda ala re...

OK I had never witnessed Govinda like this! All these pics are taken from my living room window and it was fun watching this group fight it out to reach the handi!

Linking Mumbai...

[Picture courtesy: Mansohi Banerjee]

I am not very happy with the idea of the Worli-Bandra Sea-link. But what can one person do? To me, it ruins my most favourite place in the world- Worli Sea face. But whenever I voiced my opinion...people said that I was against development. So whatever. My sister happen to zoom past the link and captured some moments at the Sea link and the sea face...