It doesn't matter if it rains, if the water from the puddle get splashed onto you by occasional vehicles that passes by, life has to go on, no matter what!
People often talk about life and its struggles. But most of them have no idea how lucky they are in comparison with someone else's struggles. Picture from a country where reserving a train seat for an urgent journey itself is a struggle!
How much would it cost for a basket of grapes, you might wonder. The auction started at ₹300/- Picture from a huge fruit market of Kolkata.
What happens in the afterlife, you might ponder. Well, life goes on. So is the celebration of life, I guess. An image of a funeral procession from Kolkata, near the Kalighat temple.
When you have to meet your basic necessities of life such as food, water, shelter and clothing, would you even care where exactly you try to make a living? An image in front of Jorasanko Thakur Bari, the ancestral home of Rabindranath Tagore.
When life extends beyond the walls of your house, you open up to a whole new possibilities, though it might not be a decision out of creativity, rather one out of necessity. Here is one such street that has turned into a dining hall, cloth drying area, washing corner, laundry room and much more. Though the pictures of Gods on the wall doesn't make it into a prayer hall. Those pictures have a bigger purpose of keeping the area and the wall clean by preventing people from attempting to discharge their urgency!
Can you remember your life before YouTube and Netflix and cheap data charges? It was much simpler, just like the dog immersed in that moment in deep thoughts! This is not just only in the streets of Kolkata though; applies world wide.
Wouldn't you offer money to god thinking that you can buy some blessing off with your currency? But would you care to part with a fraction of the same amount to someone who ask for it in the name of god? May it have become an organized business, but isn't it interesting that we tend to give money to who is already abundant and discard the ones in need!
When many of the travelers first comes to India and hear the tour guide/an Indian speaks good English, they wonder! And if someone doesn't speak well, they appreciate their effort. Because India isn't an English speaking country. But then one day when you see a guy working in a busy market with his name tattooed in English, you wonder what his story might be! Then you notice the advertisement on the bag as well. Interesting country, isn't it?
They don't care about the prejudices of the society, they 'make up' their faces towards the ugly looks on the 'society' because all they care is living a life in the streets of Kolkata.
Behind every "glamour and glitz" story, there is a behind-the-scene-story of many people's hard work unseen,unnoticed and unappreciated.
“When I go from hence, let this be my parting word, that what I have seen is unsurpassable.
I have tasted of the hidden honey of this lotus that expands on the ocean of light, and thus I am blessed—let this be my parting word.
In this playhouse of infinite forms I have had my play and here have I caught sight of him who is formless.
My whole body and my limbs have thrilled with his touch who is beyond touch; and if the end comes here, let it come—let this be my parting word.”
― Gitanjali: Song Offerings
Also check out more street photos from Kolkata.
