Travel Blogs

Travel, Document, Portraits, Street Photography Mahesh Balasubramanian Travel, Document, Portraits, Street Photography Mahesh Balasubramanian

Kulasai Dasara Festival, 2023

The Sri Mutharmman temple resides in Kulasekharapattinam village near Tiruchendur, approximately 55 km south of Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India. It's a hub of celebration during Dasara, drawing in a massive crowd of devotees. What sets this festival apart is its distinctive practice: devotees aren't required to spend their own money. Instead, they embark on a door-to-door alms collection, using the contributions solely for token offerings at the shrine.

On the climactic day, the once desolate coastal village transforms into a lively carnival along the seashores. The air fills with the melodies of folk music, and devotees adorned in elaborate costumes engage in folk dances. Their purpose? To seek the blessings of Sri Muthramman, revered as the incarnation of Sakthi, the consort of Lord Shiva in Hinduism, or to express gratitude for the blessings received.

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Travel, Document, Portraits, Street Photography Mahesh Balasubramanian Travel, Document, Portraits, Street Photography Mahesh Balasubramanian

Kulasai & Udangudi, 2022

Sri Mutharmman temple is located at Kulasekharapattinam village near Tiruchendur 55 km south of Tuticorin, Tamilnadu, India. In this temple, Dasara is celebrated as a big festival. Lakhs of people are assembled here to celebrate this festival. The uniqueness and oddity of the festival is that the devotees need not spend from their pockets. They are expected to beg alms from door to door and token offerings only are expected to be offered at the shrine after meeting their expenses. On a climatic day, the sea shores of this otherwise deserted coastal village turn into a veritable carnival of folk music and folk dance of the devotees in their chosen fancy dresses to either solicit the grace of or to thank for the boon granted by the presiding deity Sri Muthramman considered to be the incarnation of Sakthi the consort of Lord Shiva in Hinduism.

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Travel, Street Photography Mahesh Balasubramanian Travel, Street Photography Mahesh Balasubramanian

Hampi

Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India.

Hampi was a prosperous city for more than 200 years from the 13th to the 16th century. The ruins of Hampi have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and also as an abbreviation of “UNESCO’s World Heritage site”. Inscribed as a mixed cultural heritage site as well as an Indian architectural and archeological site.

The most flourishing period of Hampi began during the rule of Hindu King Krishnadevaraya.

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Travel, Document Mahesh Balasubramanian Travel, Document Mahesh Balasubramanian

Kulasekarapattinam Dasara 2019

Sri Mutharmman temple is located at Kulasekharapattinam village near Tiruchendur 55 km south of Tuticorin, Tamilnadu, India. In this temple Dasara is being celebrated as a big festival. Lakhs of people are assemble here to celebrate this festival. The uniqueness and oddity of the festival is that the devotees need not spend from their pocket. They are expected to beg alms from door to door and a token offerings only is expected to be offered at shrine after meeting out their expenses. On the climatic day the sea shores of this otherwise deserted coastal village turns into veritable carnival of folk music and folk dance of the devotees in their chosen fancy dresses to either solicit the grace of or to thank for the boon granted by presiding deity Sri Muthramman considered to be the incarnation of Sakthi the consort of Lord Shiva in Hinduism.

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Street Photography, Travel Mahesh Balasubramanian Street Photography, Travel Mahesh Balasubramanian

Using Flash - Street Photography

Using Flash in Street photography is quite difficult or sometimes uncomfortable, but it gives very satisfying results. After I bought "Ricoh GR Digital", I wanted to make use of the in-built flash in some difficult lighting situations. I also wanted to try flash in night people photography, especially long exposure pictures.

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Meghalaya

Meghalaya is one of the seven sisters state of "Northeast India". I had a opportunity to visit some of the parts of Meghalaya (Shillong, Mawlynnlong, Riwai, Cherrapunji, Dawki, Mawphlang, etc). These are some of the travel photographs taken during this travel.

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Travel, Portraits Mahesh Balasubramanian Travel, Portraits Mahesh Balasubramanian

Travel Portrais

Most of my portraits are taken during my travel, with available ambient natural light. I strive to portray their inner heart and soul through the expressions in the eyes. I believe that through the subject’s eyes and expression, one can get a feeling of the person’s emotions, state of mind, happiness or sorrow. It is my goal to make portraits which will connect the viewers and the subjects directly. The following set of portraits taken in various places across india like (Chennai, Shillong, Kodaikanal, Varanasi, Kolkata, Bylakuppe, Agra, Allepy, Kaveripattinam, etc)

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Travel Mahesh Balasubramanian Travel Mahesh Balasubramanian

RAJASTHAN - Travel Photography

I happen to visit some of the places in Rajasthan (Jaipur, Pushkar, Jodhpur & Jaisalmer). The following are some of the pictures taken during the travel.

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Travel, Portraits Mahesh Balasubramanian Travel, Portraits Mahesh Balasubramanian

Pushkar Portraits

I always love to take portraits of people. Whenever I travel, I like to meet new people, understand their culture and try to take some close portraits of them. I happen to visit Pushkar in 2012 during Pushkar Mela. These are the collections of portraits taken there.

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Karnataka

Collection of pictures taken during my travel to Karnataka (Bylakuppe, Belur, Halebidu & Shravanabelagola )

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