Chilkigarh Raj Palace

This blog contains 14 photos shot in Chilkigarh.

Chilkigarh Raj Palace in Chilkigarh is a mansion belonging to a royal family but I heard they have moved out. The palace is locally known as Chilkigarh Rajbari. In Bengali, 'rajbari' means 'royal residence'.

Renovation of Chilkigarh Raj Palace was on when I visited it for shoot. The West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation (WBTDC) is in negotiation with the owners of Chilkigarh Raj Palace to develop it as a heritage hotel. If the agreement goes through, the monument will become a palace resort.

Location : Jhargram District, West Bengal.

Photos shot in December 2018.

All photos © S Srikant.

Chilkigarh Raj Palace in Chilkigarh.

A renovation worker at Chilkigarh Raj Palace in Chilkigarh.

Shadows cast by the morning sun in Chilkigarh Raj Palace, Chilkigarh.

A renovation worker at Chilkigarh Raj Palace in Chilkigarh.

Close-up of the mansion.

Bikers near the main entrance to Chilkigarh Raj Palace in Chilkigarh. The entrance remains closed and the building on the right is the royal residence. Jagannath Temple is seen on the left, in the background.

A gallery in Chilkigarh Raj Palace, Chilkigarh.

Arches in Chilkigarh Raj Palace, Chilkigarh.

Jagannath Temple, seen through an arch.

This portion of Chilkigarh Raj Palace in Chilkigarh is used as a big garbage dump.

Scribblings on wall in a room.

View from a gallery in Chilkigarh Raj Palace, Chilkigarh.

A Shiva temple in the premises of Chilkigarh Raj Palace.

Jagannath Temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna, in the premises of Chilkigarh Raj Palace in Chilkigarh.

Gadrasini Hill and Ghagra Waterfall

This blog contains 9 photos shot in Gadrasini Hill, Ghagra Waterfall and an unknown place. These places are located in the Jungle Mahal region of West Bengal.

Visitors can go by vehicle till the base of Gadrasini Hill. From there, one has to climb to the top, where there is a temple dedicated to Mokshnath Baba, a sadhu (ascetic). The reservoir of Khandarani Dam can be seen from here.

Ghagra Waterfall is a cascade and is 12 km away from Gadrasini Hill.

Location : Jhargram District, West Bengal.

Photos shot in December 2018.

All photos © S Srikant.

Gadrasini Hill, seen from a distant road.

Gadrasini Hill, seen from a distant road.

A Hindu shrine on the way to the top of Gadrasini Hill.

The Jungle Mahal forests, seen from Gadrasini Hill.

The peak of Gadrasini Hill. The shrine at the left is that of Mokshnath Baba, an ascetic. The hills in the far background (centre) are close to the West Bengal - Jharkhand border.

A cave near the top of Gadrasini Hill.

The reservoir of Khandarani Dam is seen at the left, amid the Jungle Mahal forests. The stream flows from right to left, towards the reservoir.

Tourists in front of Mokshnath Baba shrine in Gadrasini Hill.

A panorama of Ghagra Waterfall.

Bogibeel Bridge Dedicated to the Nation

With a length of 4.94 km, Bogibeel Bridge over the mighty river Brahmaputra is a very significant bridge due to the following reasons.

1) It is India's longest rail-cum-road bridge and Asia's 2nd longest rail-cum-road bridge. Also, it is the 2nd longest bridge in Assam.

2) The bridge is a blessing for the people of Upper Assam and the nearby parts of Arunachal Pradesh. Before its inauguration, ferries were the main means of transport to cross the Brahmaputra. This was a costlier option. After the bridge was inaugurated, people could simply drive their vehicles on it or take a bus or train.

3) Bogibeel Bridge provides all-day, all-weather connectivity. The ferries would operate only from sunrise to sunset. And during the rough monsoons, services would frequently get cancelled, leaving people with no feasible mode of transportation.

4) The bridge is of strategic importance to India's defence as it will greatly enhance its ability to move troops and supplies from the southern bank of Brahmaputra in Assam to the river's northern bank in the state and subsequently to Arunachal Pradesh, which borders China. Remember that China has claims on parts of Arunachal Pradesh, and in case of any conflict, the connectivity that Bogibeel Bridge provides will be critical to India's interests. Thus, the bridge adds immensely to our national security.

This blog contains 12 photos from the inauguration of Bogibeel Bridge. The photos were shot in Bogibeel Ghat and on Brahmaputra.

The commissioning of Bogibeel Bridge is India's way of telling China, "Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of our country. Stay off!"

Locations :
Dibrugarh District, Assam;
Aboard ferries on Brahmaputra River.

Photos shot in December 2018.

All photos © S Srikant.

The Bogibeel Bridge over Brahmaputra at Bogibeel Ghat, on the day before its inauguration. 2 army soldiers (right) are seen patrolling, while the boat (left) houses officials of Northeast Frontier Railway.

Bogibeel Bridge over the mighty Brahmaputra.

Section of Bogibeel Bridge carrying railway lines. A worker can be seen.

A ferry on Brahmaputra carrying passengers and their motorcycles and cars, as Bogibeel Bridge forms the backdrop.

People and their vehicles being ferried on boat across the Brahmaputra.

Workers giving finishing touches on the road over the bridge. Note the river bed in the dry winter.

The day before the inauguration of Bogibeel Bridge was nostalgic for some as it was the last day of commercial ferry service. Seen here is one of the last ferry services in the evening.

The day before the inauguration of Bogibeel Bridge was nostalgic for some as it was the last day of commercial ferry service. Seen here is one of the last ferry services in the evening.

Tinsukia - Naharlagun Inaugural Special slowly makes its way towards Bogibeel Bridge, on the inauguration day of the bridge.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to the public from the top of Bogibeel Bridge in Bogibeel Ghat, after inaugurating the road section.

After addressing the public, Narendra Modi flagged off the train services on Bogibeel Bridge. Pictured here is the locomotive of Tinsukia - Naharlagun Inaugural Special as it enters the bridge in Bogibeel Ghat.

People in Bogibeel Ghat watch as the train passes on Bogibeel Bridge on a historic day for Upper Assam and the adjoining areas of Arunachal Pradesh.

Thevar Jayanthi

Content advisory : This album contains a photo showing a person's cheeks pierced with spear.

Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Thevar (1908-1963) is a revered figure among the Thevars, many of whom worship him as god. Muthuramalingam Thevar advocated Indian nationalism and was a religious person. His thoughts on spirituality has had a profound influence on his community members, the Thevars, and has earned him the name 'Deiva Thirumagan', a Tamil term meaning 'venerated son of God'.

After his death, Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Thevar was buried in front of his house in his village Pasumpon and a memorial was constructed at the site. This place is known as Thevar Aalayam ('Thevar Temple' in Tamil).

Every year, the birthday of Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Thevar is celebrated in a grand manner at the temple housing his samadhi ('burial place' in Tamil / Sanskrit). Lakhs of Thevars from all over Tamil Nadu and outside the state converge at the village to pay homage to their leader and pray to him. This occasion is known as Thevar Jayanthi.

This blog contains 20 photos shot in Madurai, Pasumpon and Manamadurai.

Locations :
Madurai District, Tamil Nadu;
Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu;
Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

Photos shot in October 2018.

All photos © S Srikant.

Workers erect scaffolding around the statue of Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Thevar in Madurai, in preparation for Thevar Jayanthi.

Thevar women performing vilakku pujai (lamp ceremony) at Thevar Aalayam in Pasumpon.

Thevar women dance in a street in Pasumpon.

Thevar boys dance merrily in Pasumpon.

The heavily-guarded samadhi of Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Thevar in Pasumpon. The idol of Muthuramalingam Thevar (right) has been covered with a gold armour for his birthday celebrations. The armour weighs 13 kilograms and is worth ₹4.5 crores.

A young Thevar man prays before a statue of Muthuramalingam Thevar in the house where he lived in Pasumpon. A replica of stamp issued in his honour by the Government of India is at the left. To its right is a photo of Vellaichamy Thevar, the grandfather of Muthuramalingam Thevar. Behind the statue is a large portrait of Lord Murugan, of whom Muthuramalingam Thevar was an ardent devotee.

A young Thevar girl looks at a portrait of Muthuramalingam Thevar during his youth, in his house in Pasumpon.

Thevar women carrying milk pots meant for abhishekam (anointment) in Thevar Aalayam, Pasumpon.

A Thevar boy performing silambattam, a martial art, as other members of his community cheer him on at Thevar Aalayam in Pasumpon.

A Thevar man raises a slogan hailing Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Thevar at Thevar Aalayam in Pasumpon.

2 Thevar boys with torches lead their group inside Thevar Aalayam in Pasumpon.

A Thevar man pays obeisance near the samadhi of Muthuramalingam Thevar in Pasumpon, as women from his community walk carrying milk pots on head.

A young Thevar boy ties a charm on a tree at Thevar Aalayam in Pasumpon. His T-shirt has a portrait of Muthuramalingam Thevar.

Thevars take a risky ride as an overloaded car speeds in Pasumpon.

Folk dancers and musicians perform in a national highway in Manamadurai, as a politician was expected to arrive at the place, on the occasion of Thevar Jayanthi.

Queue of Thevars on the steps behind the statue of Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Thevar in Madurai, on Thevar Jayanthi.

Milk being poured on Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Thevar's statue on the occasion of Thevar Jayanthi in Madurai.

An elderly Thevar woman applies vibhuti (sacred ash) on the forehead of a man at the foot of Muthuramalingam Thevar's statue in Madurai.

Vel (spear) being removed from the cheeks of a Thevar youngster in Madurai, during Thevar Jayanthi.

Long lines of Thevars outside Thevar Aalayam in Pasumpon on Thevar Jayanthi.