During a recent visit to Indore in India, one evening we walked into the 9th century Annapurna Devi Temple. The goddess here symbolizes food, blessing devotees to be always abundant with food at home. We were greeted with peppy drum beats in front of the main shrine. A group of saree clad women across different age groups were surrounding a hesitant man in a blue shirt brandishing a small sword rather shyly. On closer look, his henna decorated hands and feet gave way that he was the groom, accompanied by all the women in his family, seeking blessings from the mother goddess for a happy life ahead. Within minutes, 2 young married, beautiful ladies, covered their faces with the edge of their saree and danced with gay abandon at the beat of the drum. The fleeting expressions on their faces beyond the veil gave away the joy that they experienced as they swung their arms showing off their beautiful henna lined palms, bending their bodies and slightly swinging the hips as they twirled around but an image of grace and beauty in totality. Soon they were joined by an older woman who danced away with a child on her shoulder fearlessly and gracefully without losing balance for a second.
The 4 giant sized elephants at the ornate temple gateway and the wall sculptures depicting mythological scenes are a welcome break on an otherwise busy street. We walked around the main shrine and the other smaller temples dedicated to Shiva, Kala Bhairava and Hanuman. When I think about Annapurna Temple, I remember the image of the happy dancing women alongside the image of the goddess !!
Pingback: 7 Storied Rajwada Palace, Indore, India | Life is a Vacation
Wonderful coverage of celebrations. The temple entry gate is grand.
Thanks Rajesh
Interesting unknown place.. and Congratulations for the award.
Thank You Nandini
It’s really a golden opportunity to watch a marriage in a temple while visiting there. It’s a good omen. Like the well taken pictures.
Thank You. Nice to know it was a good omen. Feel doubly blessed.
lovely captures .. the festive mood is visible on faces and the vibrant colours of dresses look stunning Sangita 🙂
For a while, I was more absorbed in their moves than the goddess. May I be pardoned with love and blessings. The groom was very grumpy though.
🙂
Pingback: Weekly photo Challenge : Fleeting | Denis Danze Photographe Freelance
Lovely post. So much we can enjoy while traveling. The little things are always the ones that we remember the most, later… btw, I have to learn the art of brevity from you and not ramble away on my posts!
Thanks so much for liking and the compliment!! I am happy to share my art 🙂 with you, let me know whenever you need help.
There is so much here that one trip will not be enough.
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Fleeting | blogagaini
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Fleeting | anniesshowroom
What a joyous celebration, Sangeeta. Lovely photos. 🙂
Indeed it was. Dancing is quite common in weddings in India but this one was spontaneous and that too at the beats of a lonely drum and no other music…
Pingback: weekly-photo-challenge-fleeting/Fleeting Moments #photography | Moondustwriter's Blog
hey Sangeeta, i had visited madurai, but not like this..
Oh ok. I have been to Madurai several years ago and I remembered the huge hall and the temple was very huge and the complex 10 times the size. I was surprised when I was told this, maybe they referred to the idol or the temple structure to be a mini replica. I will remove the line on Madurai. Thanks for pointing it out.
Thank You. Have made the changes.
Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge – Fleeting | patriciaddrury
Stunning pictures… 🙂
Am glad you liked them. Thank You very much.