Lazy Evening…

This week is lazy, with two holidays on Monday and Friday this week most of the crowd is out of city and it reflects on the local market roads…even the busiest stretches are taking a ‘chill pill' after last weeks festive sales...

The festive décor…

These colorful garlands made out of acrylic / plastic displayed on a street side shop for the festivities, there are few who opt for them instead of fresh flowers too… the street is half empty as the long weekend has taken the crowd out of city on tours and travels…

Festive markets...

The markets were full of people and goodies required for pooja, the festivities demand some strange veggies like these green pumpkins which are used as offerings and broken outside homes after pooja as a symbolic sacrifice to put away evil / negativities…

Ayudh Pooja..

The Ayudha (tools) Puja is a worship of whatever implements one may use in one's livelihood. On the preceding evening, it is traditional to place these implements on an altar to the Divine. If one can make a conscious effort to see the divine in the tools and objects one uses each day, it will help one to see one's work as an offering to God. It will also help one to maintain constant remembrance of the divine. In India it is customary for one to prostrate before the tools one will use before starting one's work each day; this is an expression of gratitude to God for helping one to fulfill one's duties.

Mandalu (Mandakki), The Puffed Rice..

Upcoming Dasera festivities and pooja is not completed without Prasad ( offering) of Puri, i.e Mandalu the puffed rice, This street seller has a huge container full kept for sale. Puffed rice is a type of puffed grain made from rice; usually made by heating rice kernels under high pressure in the presence of steam, though the method of manufacture varies widely.

Festive Trends…

How can festivities be without shopping and these options always top the list? The new range and designs continue to redefine uniqueness yet align with the trends…

Onions & Potatoes…

Festive seasons raise demand for general commodities and this shop keeper is fully stocked in anticipation. The trades are low as the prices touch sky yet the traders hope they will be ale to sell the entire inventory….

People Around…

The life in the city moves fast, there are few challenged folks who keep fighting the challenging times even to provide for the most obvious needs. The city provides opportunities to all….

Mutton for Eid ..

City celebrated Eid and people flock to the mutton (goat meat) shop to buy the fresh meat to prepare non-veg delicacies like “Dum Biryani” to celebrate end of the month long fast!!

Long Weekend...

September is kind, it offeres two holidays on mondays..21st being "Ramzan Id" and 28th "Dasera" thus BDP will be making most of this and remain offline for the first one, visiting "Jog Falls" in shimoga...catch you later!!

by the way, if you are a photo blogger and wish to post for BDP, do write to me!!

Chopping Trees …

This remains serious & larger concern for the ‘Garden City’ in the wake of development more and more trees are chopped off taking the city green cover down, most of the residential layouts in the central part are old and have many old and fully grown trees on the lanes, the redevelopments of houses that transform them from residential to semi-commercial structures take off the trees to accommodate for parking or provide visibility to new constructions required for commercial use of the premise…most of this chopping is done on weekends to avoid authorities intervention!!

Along the street…

All-in-one streetshop welcoming the regulars, such streetshop houses everyday common needs and is normally opens around dawn till late night as the buyer pattern keep changing with the demands / orders…

Jalebi’s @ Marathalli

Jalebi remains a favorite sweet on top of my wish list, on strong recommendation by my colleague I reached out to this sweet shop (Sri Radhakrishna Sweets, specialized for Rajasthani sweets) at Marathalli and enjoyed hot and fresh Jalebi’s while they packed my other purchases like malai-roll, onion kachori, samosas etc …

Now Reading...

Street shot of the books I use to track who is reading what! Most of these are the cheap / pirated copies but tends to give an idea about which titles are still in demand, compared to last snapshot in Jan 09 , April 09 , Jun 09 and July 09 looks like some titles are here to stay…

Roadside...

Another enterprenuer making pots in his roadside place, the drive to earn a living ensures creative ways for many such individuals in the city...

Sharp Business...

Knifemakers mobile cart, with ready to use knifes seen nearby a mrket area, he seems to be wondering around making some deliveries ...

Veggies…

Fresh veggies kept for sale in a local HOPCOMS store, a Co-operative society for marketing of horticultural produce in Bangalore which handles a quantity of 100 Metric tones of fruits and vegetables per day. The stores are evenly distributed in all major residential areas and serves as an affordable alternative to housewives in that neighborhood…

BMTC Vajra..

It is now a common sight on city roads that these swanky Volvos ply regular routes at affordable cost, it is estimated that more than 200 such buses at part of the BMTC fleet and cover almost all routes in the city…

Late night…

A rare sight perhaps for the city when you don’t see anyone in the coffee shop, the buzzing arena is seen taking a break from coffee conversations, too late for the coffee nearing midnight!!

Eco Friendly..

The chennapatna wooden bangles kept for sale outside Cauvery handicrafts on MG Road, attractive affordable and more important made from wood and painted with vibrant vegetable / natural dyes…simply superb!!

Change of season...

The forest fire blooming started in the city and are seen on the streets as the seasons change. It is raining everyday at least for any hour or more bringing the mercury down...

The Sky...

Windy, cold, rainy and yet at time shiny bright...the cloudy skies with showers taking most of the city in it's cover all through last couple days, the mornings are delightful, cool. a perfect combination of rain and sunshine...

Landmarks & References..

New landmarks get created as the Namma Metro on MG road is being built the old landmark like “Cauvery Handicrafts” will have some additional references in the future…

Sand Roasted Peanuts…

The roadside cart selling roasted peanuts, the peanuts are partially boiled and soaked in water (somewhat salted) before they are roasted. The medium used for to roast the peanuts is river sand that is heated in an iron pan and reused …the final product that is served hot is a great munch for sure!!

Lunch @Halli Mane...

“Halli Mane” (halli = village, mane = home) is a restaurant in Malleshwaram known for its true Karnataka cuisine. It represents a rural insight from the urban world of karnataka state, indeed a very modern “village house” serving the traditional flavors. We tried the meals (served on banana leaf) and I loved the akki roti (made from rice flour), streaming hot rice with anna saaru (tomato rasam) and fantastic mosaru anna (curd rice) served with salted mango pickle…contrasting with some north Indian breads (kulcha and rotis ) with kurma sabji followed by rasagulla, vanilla ice-cream and a banana…

Handmade…

Outside of the famous Cauvery arts n crafts, this stall lures many buyers with handmade textile items; this provides extended platforms to colorful Lambani artifacts offering a range of choices. This art originates from Banjara’s also known as Lambani or Lambadas is traditional with embellishment in silver, brass, gold, cowries, animal bones, mirrors or plastics. More..