Bonalu Festival

Bonalu is a Hindu Festival. Goddess Mahankali is worshiped. Bonalu is an annual festival of Telangana. It is celebrated in the month of Ashada Masam. Women prepare rice cooked with Milk, Jaggery in a New Brass or Earthen Pot adorned with Neem Leaves,Turmeric,Vermilion and a lit lamp on the top of the Pot. Women carry the pots on their heads and make offering of Bonam along with Turmeric-Vermilion, Bangles and Saree to the Mother Goddess across the Temples.

The history of the origin of this festival traces back to the 19th Century, and is linked with the "Regimental Bazaar" and the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. In the year 1813, plague disease broke out in the twin cities, and this took away the lives of thousands of people. Just before this, a military battalion from Hyderabad was deployed to Ujjain. When this Hyderabad Military Battalion got to know about the epidemic in the cities, they prayed to the Mother Goddess in Mahankali Temple -Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. History tells us, that this military battalion prayed to Goddess Mahankali, to kill plague, and if the Goddess would do so, they had decided to install and idol of Goddess Mahankali in the city. It is believed that Mahankali destroyed the disease and kept pestilence at arms length. Then, the military battalion returned to the city & installed an idol of the goddess, which was followed by the offering of Bonalu to her. Hence, from then, this had turned a tradition, which has been followed and is still being followed by all the people belonging to Telangana.

Here are some pictures shot with Nikon D50

Please click on the pictures to get bigger versions for better appreciation.

Golkonda

Golkonda, also known as Golconda or Golla konda ("shepherd's hill"), is a citadel and fort in Southern India and was the capital of the medieval sultanate of the Qutb Shahi dynasty(c.1518–1687), is situated 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) west of Hyderabad. 

Golkonda Fort was first built by the Kakatiya dynasty as part of their western defenses along the lines of the Kondapalli Fort. The city and the fortress were built on a granite hill that is 120 meters (480 ft) high, surrounded by massive battlements. The fort was rebuilt and strengthened by Rani Rudrama Devi and her successor Prataparudra.

The mud fort was expanded by the first three Qutb Shahi sultans into the present structure, a massive fortification of granite extending around 5 km in circumference. It remained the capital of the Qutb Shahi dynasty until 1590 when the capital was shifted to Hyderabad. The Golkonda Fort used to have a vault where once the famous Koh-i-Noor and Hope diamonds were stored along with other diamonds.The fortress-city within the walls was famous for diamond trade. The fort finally fell into ruin in 1687, after a year long siege leading to its fall at the hands of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

The pictures were shot with Nikon D300 and Tamron 17-5-/2.8 lens.

Please click on the pictures so see bigger versions for better appreciation.

Cape May Bird Observatory

New Jersey Audubon is a privately supported, not-for profit, statewide membership organization. Founded in 1897, and one of the oldest independent Audubon societies.

New Jersey Audubon fosters environmental awareness and a conservation ethic among New Jersey's citizens; protects New Jersey's birds, mammals, other animals, and plants, especially endangered and threatened species; and promotes preservation of New Jersey's valuable natural habitats. New Jersey Audubon also sponsors numerous field trips to various sites of environmental importance throughout New Jersey and beyond. Many of these trips are aimed primarily at birders, although trips focused on butterflies, dragonflies, reptiles and amphibians, hiking, canoeing, and caving, among other topics, are also offered on a regular basis. New Jersey Audubon also sponsors the annual World Series of Birding, perhaps the world's most famous birdwatching competition. 

Cape May is mecca for birds and birders. The Cape May Bird Observatory was founded in 1975 in Cape May, New Jersey,United States. The purpose of the Cape May Bird Observatory is to conduct research, encourage conservation, and organize educational and recreational birding activities. Cape May is at a crossroads for bird migration. Every spring and fall, thousands of migrating birds pass through the area. Subsequently, birders from all over the world have flocked to Cape May to witness the migrations.

Following are the pictures shot by me during my visit to to the observatory, with Nikon D300 and Tamron 17-50/2.8 lens

Please click on the pictures to see bigger version for better appreciation.