One of the main attractions of having older children is being able to travel again without them. A very good friend of mine has recently taken on a new job with a charity focused in West Bengal called Shivia. She was lucky enough to get out there in March and below is her first blog post about the experience. She also happens to be a very good photographer, so I’m making the photos larger than usual so that you can enjoy all the vibrant colours:-
VISIONS OF INDIA
In December I started working for a charity called Shivia. Our work is in West Bengal, one of India’s poorest and most populous states. We work in livelihood development, helping poor families start small farming enterprises to earn a regular income and work their way out of poverty. In March, I travelled to Kolkata (Calcutta), the state capital to visit colleagues there and find out more about our operations in the rural villages on the outskirts of the city. I took my camera and came home with over 500 photos….here are a few to illustrate some of the highlights of an extraordinary trip, starting with some visions of Kolkata itself.
Kolkata lies on the banks of the Hooghly River, a distributary of the Ganges and on Sundays many of the city’s residents congregate on the shore for a weekly wash. In the background is the Howrah Bridge, one of Kolkata’s iconic landmarks and renowned for being the busiest bridge of its type in the world – it’s a cantilever bridge by the way.
Just before crossing the bridge you reach Kolkata’s Malik Ghat flower market (number 52 of 197 things to do in Kolkata according to Trip Advisor). The flower sellers bring their produce from the villages to sell wholesale to Kolkata’s shops and hotels. It’s very crowded as you can see here and this was quite late on a Sunday morning. I imagine first thing on Monday it would be chaos. It seemed that everyone was selling the same thing…..thousands of hand made garlands of yellow and orange carnations, typically bought for temple prayers and weddings/festivals. It was hard to believe that they would all be sold before they became dried and shrivelled. And as I walked over the bridge towards the Howrah side I could see more sellers arriving with enormous bags of garlands on the heads. I felt like warning them that it was too late – the market was already flooded.
At the end of the day, a hazy sunset over the Hooghly River…..
….to be continued.
imoinoz
April 17, 2015Amazing photos, all those flowers !
Family Affairs
April 17, 2015I know aren’t the colours truly amazing! L x
Sarah Driver
April 17, 2015Amazing pictures and really brings the place to life – makes you realise there’s a world out there beyond our daily lives!
Rex
April 17, 2015Amazing pictures! I’ve always wanted to go to India and this post shows just how beautiful it is. Looking forward to the next post…
Brother No.2
April 17, 2015Want more! Only another 196 posts to go. Please tell Victoria as long as she’s writing and photographing them (splendidly btw), we’ll be reading. Avidly. X
Family Affairs
April 17, 2015WILL DO but frankly a little disappointed I don’t get this sort of response on any of my posts! Lx
Alice
April 17, 2015Fab pictures, what a great place to go!
JO
April 17, 2015I am now the proud owner of a chicken or two (luckily in India!) as i wouldnt have a clue how to look after them!!! But I think the people there will do a much better job than me! brilliant pictures Vicki – so proud of you and the work you are doing with Shivia – it is a big wide world and you have brought it vividly to life for us (thanks Lucy for posting it!!!) Jo x
Family Affairs
April 17, 2015I now have chicken envy – want some too Lx
Becky
April 17, 2015I’m desperate to go to India. Great photos – love the hustle and bustle and gorgeous colours. Next instalment please!
Family Affairs
April 17, 2015Thanks hun – I’ll let her know to hurry up with that! L x
Victoria
April 17, 2015I am hugely flattered by all the positive comments about the photos 🙂 There are so more to post and I will do so asap. Watch this space….