In addition to the rich color and detail of this portal, note the number of electric lines, many of them illegal connections
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Pancha Rathas (also known as Pandava Rathas) is a monument complex at Mahabalipuram, on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, in the Kancheepuram district of the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Pancha Rathas is an example of monolithic Indian rock-cut architecture. Dating from the late 7th century, it is attributed to the reign of King Mahendravarman I and his son Narasimhavarman I also called Mamalla, or "great warrior") of the Pallava Kingdom. An innovation of Narasimhavarman, the structures are without any precedent in Indian architecture. The complex is under the auspices of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site inscribed by UNESCO as Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram. (from Wikipedia)
Produced between 1958 and 2014, the 'Ambassador' served as a mainstay of the Indian automobile industry and taxi services
Indian cuisine can be broadly divided between north and south, depending largely on available vegetables
Despite his association with Christmas, Santa Claus has become a symbol of gift-giving in many non-Christian countries. This example comes from southern India.
Manger scene and religious statues, SW India
Santa Claus appears incongruously beside this minature manger
Archbishop Makarios shows Professor Jeannette Ludwig the means by which latex is tapped
The color of their vestments indicate the ranks of these Mar Thoma/Syrian Orthodox Church priests, ranging from the head of the order in red to seminarians.
The Reverend Makarios headed this church in the early 21st century. The Orthodox Syrian Church traces its roots to the first century of the Common Era, when St. Thomas is said to have visited southwest India and converted high-caste Hindus to Christianity. To this day, 'Mar Thoma' priests (as they are called) remain celibate, drawn from the top ranks of society.
Billboard comparing Basilicas of St. Peter [Italy] and St. Thomas [India]
Approximately 1600 basilicas exist in the world. Only two are believed to contain the remains of Apostles (men who served directly as Jesus' disciples). St. Peter is buried in Rome, St. Thomas in Chennai (Madras).
Christians constitute ~2.3% of India's population, concentrated largely among groups low in the social hierarchy. These women are likely Dalits [formerly known as 'untouchables'].
According to legend, the apostle St. Thomas traveled to India, dying in Chennai. The church shown here was built ~1893 by the British
Despite the country's economic growth, nearly 80 million Indians live without permanent shelter, sleeping on sidewalks or in public spaces
The holy nature of this synagogue is eivdent by the kippah worn by the two men
Christians make up about 2.3% of India's population, but they are highly concentrated in Kerala [SW] and northeastern parts of the country. Kochi is a famed port in Kerala
These colorful, mass-produced jugs are widely used by Indian city dwellers
The beautiful interior of this former synagogue draws visitors from everywhere
Cattle wander freely around India, as sacred animals and as major means of trash disposal. Sweepers - invariably low-caste Dalits - also keep the streets clear
Much transportation in Indian cities comes through bicycle rickshaws of this sort, being 'guarded' by its sleeping driver.
Contrasting styles of dress, Bhopal Muslim women
Old meets new? This burkha-clad Indian Muslim woman waits for her friend on his motor scooter
This mosque shares space with shops on a major Bhopal street.
Pools of thie sort often stand inside mosques, so that worshipers can wash their feet before praying
Vārānasi (Uttar Pradesh, India : District)
As a sign of respect, garlands of this sort are often draped around the necks of important visitors
These Qur`anic instructors take a break between class sessions
Identifiable by their caps, worn by many Indian Muslims, these students learn from persons affiliated with the mosque.
These madrasah students meet in the shade of the mosque's arcades
A 'madrasah' - Islamic school - functions inside the Taj ul Masjid mosque. Students learn Qur`anic knowledge
The Taj ul Masjid, translated as 'The Crown of mosques,' was completed in 1985, its construction having started in the mid-19th century.
Although the Jewish population of Kochi has diminished to a handful of residents, the synagogue has become a tourist destination.
This statue stands just outside the walls of the former Bhopal chemical plant, honoring the nearly 560,000 persons affected by the explosion and leakage of deadly gases.
One of the world's most serious industrial accidents occurred in December 1984, when ~5000 people living close to a Union Carbide plant were exposed to methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas and other chemicals. Litigation dragged on for years; the families of victims received little if any recompense.
Buddhists believe that when the Buddha died, he left footprints behind, as symbolized here.
The intricate carving of this gateway combines human, animal and geometric figures
Visitors to Sanchi enjoy a wide variety of colorful posters and calendars with the Buddha.
This stupa - Buddhist shrine - is India's oldest stone structure, started in the 3rd century BCE by Ashoka. After centuries of neglected, it was restored during World War I, and is an essential pilgrimmage site for Buddhists
As this family has prospered, it has spent more on roof tiles, for more weather protection
The cosmopolitan, commercial nature of Kochi meant many different ethnic and religious communities lived side by side. This sign shows its continued vitality
Women fetch and carry water in most developing countries. This village has a pump, showing its development
Although India's birth rate has been dropping for several years, the population is growing at ~1.25% per year, meaning it will pass China before 2040 in total population
This uniform immediately marks the wearer as attending a private school, where English is likely taught; it also suggests high caste.
Contents of this cart, loaded with fresh vegetables, must be sold quickly, because few venders have access to refrigerators
Although individual homes are tiny, electricity exists in this south Indian hamlet
The stone pavement, sheet metal roof and whitewashed walls - with India's colors - show that upper caste people life in this village
Most Indians don't shop in large stores, choosing instead among stalls
Many Muslims are active in India's retail food markets
Because of heat and cooks' low wages, cooking in the non-monsoon season often occurs outdoors
In India, widowed women dress themselves in white. They may have no source of income other than from begging.
Press-walas' earn their living by washing and ironing clothes. Note how this man uses charcoal, not electricity, for his iron
By skillful use of melody and rhythm, this man encourages poisonous puff adders to rise from their baskets for tourists
The body of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama lay beneath this slab for many decades.
Both the menorah and Star of David indicate the holy nature of the Kochi synagogue
St. Francis Church became famous as the burial place of Vasco da Gama, who died here in 1524 during his third trip to India
Kathakali, literally, "story-play," draws its themes from Hindu epics and puranas (religious texts focused on particular deities). The elaborate make-up used by the actors indicates the slow metamorphosis of mortals into demons and deities. they transform themselves into mythical beings, step by step. The make-up process itself takes a few hours, while performances usually last about three hours. The actors are accompanied by a percussionist playing a variety of audiences.
More than 30 plays are commonly performed in pantomime by kathakali actors. They wear heavy make-up for performances, which used to last all night.
Kathakali is a formal Malayalam dance-drama, a favorite for visitors to Kerala state, SW India
Despite the appearance of the building in the back, persons interested in the news can talk to its shopkeeper owner
To protect his perishable catch from the hot South India sun, this vender keeps everything as shaded as possible
Dr. Rishe' claims to treat many problems, including 'stemmering'
Because of the small size of their boats, the owners can fish only in immediate coastal waters
These ingeniously-designed fishing nets, perhaps originally Chinese in design, serve Indian fishermen well
To help worshippers honor the gods, flower venders gather just inside this Hindu temple
Worshippers prepare to enter Hindu temple
The wax and flame suggest the impermanence of human condition.
Vishnu and other Hindu gods, Meenakshi temple
These men wear orange, to symbolize their deep Hindu commitment.
The exuberance of Hindu art shows clearly atop the Meenakshi temple, Madurai
Hindu and Christian religious symbols on sale
Such a mixture of Christian and Hindu symbols can be found in parts of South India, one of the few areas where Christians exist in large numbers
Man carrying construction blocks, refugee camp
To rebuild after the devastating 2004 tsunami, many have turned to rebuilding their own homes
Entrance to Hindu sacred site barred to non-Hindus
Restrictions exist not only on what worshippers may wear, but who can enter
Refugees from the 2004 tsumani have no opportunity to earn money while still caught in the post-disaster recovery
Having lost their home, this Indian family awaits construction of a new one.
The devastating Southeast Asian tsunami of December 2004 destroyed homes for thousands. These families made their own shelters from large pieces of fabric
The devastating Southeast Asian tsunami of December 2004 swept away entire seaside villages and led to thousands of refugees, settled here in UN-supplied tents
Few of these school-age children attend class: up to 95% of Dalits ('Untouchables') remain illiterate
Dalits ('Untouchables') in South India live in separate 'cheris' outside villages, where they have their own water supply. This keeps them from 'polluting' persons of higher castes
Dalit women sweeping with portrait of Dr. Ambedkar
Behind the Dalit ('Untouchable') women sweeping here is a portrait of Dalit leader Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (1891-1956)
Chalked welcome to South Indian dance performance (Kathkali)
Kathkali dance is one of South India's best-known artistic traditions. This sign welcomes guests to a performance
Men praying at storefront synagogue in a Jerusalem market
This storefront synagogue has attracted at least a minyan (a group of at least ten Jewish males) for prayers.
Mounted outside a coffee shop, this sign tries to lure passers-by in Arabic (two different scripts), English and Hebrew.
Graffiti protesting Israel's wall cutting across the town.
Clad in traditional garb, this open-air merchant arranges his goods
In order to sell meat, every butcher must display a certificate indicating that animals have been slaughtered in rabinically-approved manner.
This store specializes in menorahs, jewelry and the like. Notice the conservative dress
This combined museum, research center, art gallery and the like commemorates persons killed in the Holocaust. It is Israel's second-most visited site.
Holocaust survivor and childhood friend of Ann Frank
This woman spent her early childhood in Amsterdam, where she knew Ann Frank
Silver star marking Jesus' birthplace in the Church of the Nativity, a basilica located in Bethlehem, West Bank.
The "Jerusalem Cross" is associated with the 13th century Christian kingdom of Jerusalem.