Crackers!! Sounds of celebration or Sounds of the bursting heart....

As a child, I often kept wondering why people burst crackers as I disliked the noise it created. Not only me, but the dogs in our family too disliked them. They used to run and hide under the sofa or under the bed and we had to cox them out from their hiding place and console them as we found them trembling uncontrollably. so, that made the few of us which made us scowl and fear at the mere thought of crackers. To the rest of the world, fireworks and crackers are an indispensable part of celebrations. In India, people always make a go for crackers and fireworks specially during Durga Puja and Diwali besides other celebrations ranging from winning the World Cup Cricket... to our Govt. agreeing to meet the demands of some protesters... to weddings or... any other form of celebrations and festivities. And as I said before, Diwali and Durga Puja is the time when the display of fireworks and bursting of crakers are at its highest point in India.  I used to wonder why can't there be celebrations without the crackers? Lights and fireworks are wonderful but crakers....Ummmpphh!! 

Life's journey continued and during the journey, most have been happy times but yes, there were also instances when my heart bled. During the happy times, life breeze like a breadth of fresh air and is filled with all the beauty and charm of the display of fireworks. But then, when you got a bleeding heart, it was like the frightening sound of the crackers which I used to dislike all the time. And when people set fire on crackers, the sounds of my sad bursting heart resonated with those of the crackers which are sounds of joy for others. I kept listening to those deafening sounds  and it seemed as if I am setting free the trapped sounds of my bursting heart from within myself. What used to be frightening as a child became a sense of relief and release from my pent up emotions of life's darker side as I matured in the journey of my life. Then again, when happiness knocked in my heart this Diwali, it was sheer joy and celebrations and my heart sang along with the fireworks and crackers. 

So, Crackers for sure are both Sounds of celebrations as well as Sounds of the bursting heart..be it bursting with sadness, or bursting with joy!! 

 This Diwali, I happen to record a few moments of the display of sparks and sounds of a bursting chain of crackers which matched with the sparks in my life and also resonated with the sounds of my heart bursting with joy and exuberance. Hope you will enjoy viewing this video and find your heart resonating with it too. Cheers!!

  

*** Diana Raj Kumari ***

Gauri and Ganesh of Umananda Island

I often visit the Umananda/Peacock Island in the middle of the Brahmaputra river to offer my prayers at the temple of Umananda i.e. Uma(Goddess Parvati) and Ananda(Lord Shiva) with their son Lord Ganesh. It always gives me immense pleasure and peace of mind in doing so and feel as if my batteries are charged to take on the challenges of life. But besides doing my puja there, it is also an oportunity to react with the few animals kept there. The Golden Langurs, the slide show of their pictures I had published in one of my earlier posts, a cat, a few goats, a cow and a calf. Today I am presenting some photographically captured beautiful moments spent there with Gauri the Cow and Ganesh, her calf who is one full of mischief on one of my trips there with my Dad and Mom.

Gauri, the mother cow suckling her calf Ganesh.

Ganesh posing with Dad for a photograph. 

Ganesh with the goat and Mom watching in amusement at 

his mischievous nature. 

Ganesh expecting for something to eat from Mom.

Moooo... not satisfied with the cake and patties Mom gave, 

he decided to give her a chase for more snacks :))

Still looking for more......

Finally having his fill, decided to give Mom a lick in appreciation.. ....Cute way of saying thanks by a mischievous calf :))

A cute and mischievous Ganesh  standing beside the Cycas plant.

Gauri deciding to play hide and seek with eveyone...

*** Diana Raj Kumari Photography***

Wishing one and all Happiness, Joy and Prosperity on the auspicious occasion of Diwali!*!

May the festival of lights be the harbinger of joy and prosperity. On the auspicious occasion of Diwali, the atmosphere is filled with the spirit of mirth and love. Here's hoping this festival of Light and beauty bring your way, bright sparkles of happiness, prosperity and contentment that stay with you through the journey of Life.
Best wishes on Diwali!!

♪♫ Musical Diwali Blessings ~Tucmuc~

***May the festival of light that we celebrate at Diwali show us the way and lead us together on the path of righteousness, peace, prosperity and social harmony.***

        *** Diana Raj Kumari ***

PRINCE FREAKASSO'S MYSTIQART

Dear all, I would like to present before you the amazing paintings of the world renowned International Artist and Poet Prince Freakasso. 

Prince Freakasso's works of contemporary art is rear, unique and filled with mysticism. Hailing from an aristocratic family and carrying British/Portuguese bloodlines, he began to paint wildlife and landscapes at the age of seven. Most of these works were taken away by representatives of CRY, UNICEF and the WORLD WILDLIFE FUND (WWF). Many also found home with a late uncle of his, who was a US Senator and a host of others paintings too became collections of Art appreciators world wide. After he honed his skills by taking up courses with Walter Foster Inc, Pratt Institute USA and The British Institutes, Prince Freakasso  for some years, left art and joined the hospitality industry. But after a long haitus, in 2006, he once again returned to his contemporary art, his real metier when he felt he had to run red somewhere after going through many ugly twists and turns in his personal life. 

As he himself says, "I wanted it to run red somewhere! And then it happened,a strange vision of a world beyond, whose denizens appeared grotesque and ugly, but their hearts were beautiful. Just like me, they too had been the victims of unforeseen circumstances in this world which I habitated, trespassed and trampled upon while on earth, they had decided to forgive their trespassers. Although despised by the despicable, they showed me that 'TO FORGIVE IS TO LOVE' Today I have embarked on a mission,to paint my visions of a world so far,until death doe's me part from my art."

***These cerebral creations on paper or canvas,will always be my PAIN.....THINGS!*** ~ Prince Freakasso

Prince Freakasso Mystiqart Slideshow: -’s trip to Bangalore, Karnataka, India was created by TripAdvisor. See another Bangalore slideshow. Create a free slideshow with music from your travel photos.

The mysticism in Prince Freakasso's paintings is that he is one who specialise in Yantricism, a kind of yantric or vaasthu art meant to have a huge therapeutic or curative effecton any problems within the home environs. 
Also, he is one who have mastered a secret doctrine which he conceals in his paintings through pentagrams, cryptograms, mystical script and a kind of heiroglyphics. These hidden symbols bring about unbelievable results to the one who has got such a rare and valuable painting of Prince Freakasso. I personally feel and doubt if there is any other artist globally who is into the same kind of art except the one and only Prince Freakasso himself.This art is just not wall power,but all power,needing to be experienced to be beleived. 
Prince Freakasso sells Privately. He also sells art for charity and to help struggling artists. His desire and future plan....to Paint the worlds biggest mural and design the biggest sculpture in allegorical morphism.


Prince Frekasso's credo: "Oh Lord these lines are thine, 
                                               Colour has it's magic; 
                                               And it will make them shine:
                                               So the results I assure you, 
                                               Are entirely yours not mine."
                   


***I thought that love would flood my soul,I dreamt a life of bliss; After years of tears and pent up pain,I SPILT MY BLOOD ON CANVAS. *** ~~Princefreakasso 




                                                      *** Diana Raj Kumari ***

Golden Langurs of Umananda Island.

These Golden Langurs are being kept by the Assam forest department at the Peacock Island, also known as Umananda located in the middle of the mighty Brahmaputa River. Tourists and devotees of Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati flock here everyday to offer prayers at the temple. Only 4 or 5 Priests, a Cat, some goats, a cow and a calf and these monkeys are the residents of this island which is termed as the smallest inhabited river island in the world. They are very friendly and its a joy to spend time with these beautiful creations of God.

Golden Langurs of Umananda/Peacock Island Slideshow: -’s trip from New Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi, India to Guwahati was created by TripAdvisor. See another Guwahati slideshow. Create your own stunning slideshow with our free photo slideshow maker.

                                        *** Diana Raj Kumari Photography***

Life is beautiful when your loved one is beside you!!

In one of my visits to Nabagraha Temple, I came across some monkeys there. Of them all, these pair of monkeys drew my attention. These two were in a world of their own, grooming each other. The male was flat on his tummy resting his chin on his hands while the female groomed him. They were least bothered as to what was going on around them until I decided to click their photographs. It sure annoyed the male for invading their privacy and showed his anger towards me but the female calmed him down and they got back to their grooming allowing me to click their photo in peace. Indeed for these pair of primates,.......

Life is beautiful when your loved one is beside you!!

Its grooming time for the lover and his beloved.....

Khiiiiiiii......No photography!! Paparazzis are unwanted here....

Relax Honey...Let her click our pictures while I groom you. Let the world see how happy we are together...

                      

             *** Diana Raj Kumari Photography***

Evening Serenity and Birds' Love♥

An evening walk by the serene river bank is a time when I enjoy watching the birds returning to their nests after their day's flight.  Caught a few pictures of birds which flew down and stopped at a spot looking back towards where their partner has lagged behind. As soon as the other catches up, together they flew away towards their nests. Amazing!! Even Birds love and care for their Life Partners!!

*** Diana Raj Kumari Photography***