Telangana Turns 3

The demand for a separate Telangana state was made in the early 1950s. Some of the reasons were neglect of backward regions, discrimination against local candidates in employment, less allocation of river water to the region, lack of irrigation projects and cultural differences between Telangana and Andhra regions.

After decades of struggle which saw strikes, protests and reportedly hundreds of suicides, Telangana became India's 29th state with Hyderabad as its capital on June 2, 2014.

This blog contains 18 photos shot in Hyderabad and Secunderabad during the 3rd anniversary of Telangana Formation Day.

Location : Hyderabad District, Telangana.

Photos shot in June 2017.

All photos © S Srikant.

Police personnel at an entrance of Gun Park, Hyderabad.

A BJP affiliate being interviewed by a TV9 reporter.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao places a wreath at Telangana Martyrs' Memorial in Gun Park, Hyderabad in honour of those who sacrificed their lives over the decades for a separate Telangana.

Telangana State Police personnel observe silence at Telangana Martyrs' Memorial in Gun Park, Hyderabad.

Members of Telangana Social Media Forum raise slogans hailing Telangana at Telangana Martyrs' Memorial in Gun Park, Hyderabad.

Telangana Tourism minibuses offering 'Hop On Hop Off' tour of Hyderabad waiting to be inaugurated on Telangana Formation Day in People's Plaza in Hyderabad.

The Chairman of Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation (TSTDC) Pervaram Ramulu cuts the ribbon to inaugurate the food festival in People's Plaza, Hyderabad, as (left to right) Christina Z Chongthu, Managing Director of TSTDC, Shekhar Prasad Singh, Chief Secretary to Govt. of Telangana and B Venkatesham, Secretary of TSTDC look on.

Ms Chongthu, Mr Singh and Mr Venkatesham share a light moment at a biryani stall.

Artistes from the cultural organisation Telangana Samskruthika Sarathi performing a Telangana folk dance on Telangana Formation Day in People's Plaza, Hyderabad.

Telangana Samskruthika Sarathi artistes performing a folk dance in People's Plaza, Hyderabad.

Artistes of Telangana Samskruthika Sarathi proudly display the word 'Telangana' after a brilliant performance in People's Plaza, Hyderabad.

Artistes from Haryana beside the stage in People's Plaza, Hyderabad.

A Haryana official speaks during the cultural programme in People's Plaza, Hyderabad.

Haryana artistes in action on Telangana Formation Day at People's Plaza in Hyderabad.

A Haryana artiste sings by the stage as others dance on stage.

A stall selling Telangana mirchi (chillies) and papad at People's Plaza in Hyderabad.

The Kakatiya Arch in Tank Bund Road, Secunderabad is lit up in pink on the occasion of Telangana Formation Day.

3-D projection mapping on facade of Kacheguda railway station in Hyderabad to celebrate Telangana Formation Day.

The Ghost Town of Dhanushkodi

In December 1964, a massive cyclone struck the coastal town of Dhanushkodi in Madras State (now Tamil Nadu). The whole of Dhanushkodi town was destroyed and declared as a ghost town. Even today, it pretty much remains in the same condition, with ruins of few buildings.

The 20 photos in this blog also show the life of the people who live there in a settlement.

Location : Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu.

Photos shot in May 2017.

All photos © S Srikant.

The iconic dilapidated Roman Catholic church (foreground) and the railway station water tank (background, left) in Dhanushkodi.

A trishula (Indian trident) stands near ruins in Dhanushkodi.

Pillars that once upon a time supported a building in Dhanushkodi.

Footprints in the sands of time.

A damaged Hindu temple, Dhanushkodi.

The ruins of Dhanushkodi in the wind.

Fishermen pushing their boat into the sea.

Fishermen removing fish from nets at the beach in Dhanushkodi.

A Hindu ritual in progress in the shores of Dhanushkodi.

Naga puja (worship of snake god) being performed by a family in Dhanushkodi.

Oyster shells being fished out.

A young woman carrying water across the barren land in Dhanushkodi.

A man mends fishing net.

A woman preparing dosa in Dhanushkodi.

A woman (left) sorts out oyster shells as 2 boys pose for a picture.

A woman lays fish on the ground for drying in Dhanushkodi.

A girl swings.

A woman dips a bucket in a fresh water well in Dhanushkodi.

After being pulled from the well, the water gets poured into pots and cans to be taken home.

A van with visitors leaves Dhanushkodi on the sandy path.

Thrissur Pooram

Pooram is an annual festival celebrated by temples across Kerala. These festivals are dedicated to Hindu gods / goddesses. The grandest and most famous of the poorams is the one held in the cultural capital of Kerala - Thrissur.

This blog contains 20 photos from the 2017 festival.

Location : Thrissur District, Kerala.

Photos shot in May 2017.

All photos © S Srikant.

Elephants carrying the deity Thiruvambady Bhagavathy at a traffic intersection in Thrissur.

Women making offerings of paddy during the procession of Thiruvambady Bhagavathy.

The elephants getting showered by flower petals in Thrissur.

Caparisoned elephants lined-up during a mini pooram in Thekkinkadu Maidan, Thrissur.

People waving and swaying to the beats of chenda melam (chenda orchestra) before the western entrance of Vadakkumnathan Temple, Thrissur.

Men holding aloft venchamaram (royal fans) and aalavattam (ornamental fans made of peacock feathers) on elephants.

People wave balloons as they appreciate the chenda melam (chenda orchestra).

Men on elephants swing venchamaram (royal fans) as others hold aalavattam (ornamental fans made of peacock feathers) in the back.

Volunteers from the Thrissur-based organisation Sevabharathi providing drinking water to the public in front of the western entrance of Vadakkumnathan Temple.

Chenda melam in front of the entrance of Paramekkavu Bhagavathy Temple in Thrissur.

Amid huge cheers, the head elephant of the Paramekkavu group emerges out of the southern entrance of Vadakkumnathan Temple, Thrissur for kudamattam (changing of umbrellas).

Kudamattam (changing of umbrellas) going on as blue ones get folded and replaced by orange ones. This is done as quickly as possible.

A pappan (elephant keeper) watches his elephant toss a juicy vegetable in its mouth.

A artiste plays the kuzhal.

A youth revels in the occasion.

The chenda melam (chenda orchestra) goes full swing!

The hands of people convey their rocking mood.

A man blasts an explosive near Vadakkumnathan Temple, Thrissur.

Tuskers spraying themselves with water from a tank near Vadakkumnathan Temple, Thrissur.

An elephant returns home carrying a bunch of palm leaves, in Thrissur.