View allAll Photos Tagged Distinctive,
Tulip Flaming Fire Mix
A distinctive duo-toned!
Fringed, cardinal red tulips and sunny yellow tulip with red flames make quite the statement.
Take care, be safe!
Have a wonderful day, filled with love, M, (*_*)
For more: www.indigo2photography.com
Please do not use any of my images on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit permission. © All rights reserved
tulip, fringed, red, yellow, flamed, bloom, feathered, petals, emotion, flower, portrait, single, studio, black-background, colour, design, square, "conceptual art", "Magda indigo"
The Rumps is a distinctive twin-headland located near Padstow in North Cornwall, known for its dramatic cliffs and archaeological significance. This headland is the site of an Iron Age promontory fort, featuring a series of ramparts and ditches that were once used for defence. The area is rich in wildlife, particularly seabirds, and offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Adjacent to The Rumps is Mouls Island, a small, rocky island that serves as a nesting site for seabirds like puffins (although I have never seen one) and razorbills. It is also known for its rugged natural beauty and can be viewed from various vantage points along the coastal path.
The area is accessible via a scenic coastal walk from Pentire Point, providing visitors with breathtaking vistas and the opportunity to explore the remnants of ancient fortifications. This walk also commemorates the poet Laurence Binyon, who wrote his famous poem "For the Fallen" while inspired by the views from the cliffs between Pentire Point and The Rumps
Hypopyrrhus pyrohypogaster
(Red-bellied Grackle / Cacique candela)
The Red-bellied Grackle is a distinctive rare blackbird of cloud forest in the Colombian Andes. Red-bellied Grackles moves through the forest in groups, giving a variety of calls. While it has been recorded from all three ranges of the Andes in Colombia, contemporary localities are few. Deforestation is thought to have been a major reason for declines.
Source: Neotropical Birds
The distinctive two toned glass windows of the condos at 1001 Bay Street caught my eye while walking by as more of the pink seems to have been replaced by black. Unsure if the plan is to remove the pink altogether. Built in 1989, it was designed by Okun Architect Inc.
The most distinctive feature of Herero women's dress is their horizontal horned headdress, the otjikaiva, which is a symbol of respect, worn to pay homage to the cows that have historically sustained the Herero. The headdresses can be formed from rolled-up newspaper covered in fabric. They are made to match or coordinate with dresses, and decorative brooches and pins attached to the centre front.
The main Herero group in central Namibia (sometimes called Herero proper) was heavily influenced by Western culture during the colonial period, creating a whole new identity. The missionaries considered the shape of the traditional headdress Ekori, which symbolized the horns of cows (the main source of wealth of the people), as a symbol of the devil and rejected it. The dress of the Herero proper, and their southern counterparts the Mbanderu, incorporates and appropriates the styles of clothing worn by their German colonizers. Though the attire was initially forced upon the Herero, it now operates as a new tradition and a point of pride.
During the 1904-07 war, Herero warriors would steal and wear the uniforms of German soldiers they had killed, believing that this transferred the dead soldiers' power to them. Today, on ceremonial occasions, Herero men wear military-style garb, including peaked caps, berets, epaulettes, aiguillettes and gaiters, "to honour the fallen ancestors and to keep the memories alive."
Herero women adopted the floor-length gowns worn by German missionaries in the late 19th century, but now make them in vivid colors and prints. Married and older Herero women wear the dresses, locally known as ohorokova, every day, while younger and unmarried women wear them mainly for special occasions. Ohorokova dresses are high-necked and have voluminous skirts lavishly gathered from a high waist or below the bust, incorporating multiple petticoats and up to ten metres of fabric. The long sleeves display sculptural volume: puffed from the shoulders or frilled at the wrists. Coordinating neckerchiefs are knotted around the neck. For everyday wear, dresses are ingeniously patchworked together from smaller pieces of fabric, which may be salvaged from older garments. Dresses made from a single material are reserved for special occasions.
This dress style continues to evolve. In urban Windhoek, fashion designers and models are updating Herero dress for modern, younger wearers, including glamorous sheer and embellished fabrics. "Change is difficult, I understand, but people need to get used to the change," says designer McBright Kavari. "I'm happy to be a part of the change, to be winning souls of people and making people happy when they are wearing the Herero dress." Kavari has won the Best Herero Dress competition three times in a row, but has been criticised for raising the hem of the garment to the knee
The distinctive marking and wing shape make this easy to identify when the wings are closed(and in black and white). Colour version tomorrow :-)...............view large maybe.
Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña - Escocia - Edimburgo - Royal Mile - Catedral de San Gil
ENGLISH
St Giles' Cathedral, also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh, is the principal place of worship of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh. Its distinctive crown steeple is a prominent feature of the city skyline, at about a third of the way down the Royal Mile which runs from the Castle to Holyrood Palace. The church has been one of Edinburgh's religious focal points for approximately 900 years. The present church dates from the late 14th century, though it was extensively restored in the 19th century, and is protected as a category A listed building. Today it is sometimes regarded as the "Mother Church of Presbyterianism". The cathedral is dedicated to Saint Giles, who is the patron saint of Edinburgh, as well as of cripples and lepers, and was a very popular saint in the Middle Ages. It is the Church of Scotland parish church for part of Edinburgh's Old Town.
St Giles' was only a cathedral in its formal sense (i.e. the seat of a bishop) for two periods during the 17th century (1635–1638 and 1661–1689), when episcopalianism, backed by the Crown, briefly gained ascendancy within the Kirk (see Bishops' Wars). In the mediaeval period, prior to the Reformation, Edinburgh had no cathedral as it was under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of St Andrews, whose episcopal seat was St Andrews Cathedral. For most of its post-Reformation history the Church of Scotland has not had bishops, dioceses, or cathedrals. As such, the use of the term cathedral today carries no practical meaning. The "High Kirk" title is older, being attested well before the building's brief period as a cathedral.
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ESPAÑOL
La catedral de Saint Giles, en español catedral de San Gil o San Egidio (o Saint Giles' Cathedral en inglés), es un edificio religioso histórico, construido a partir del siglo XII, emblemático de la ciudad de Edimburgo.
El edificio es más comúnmente llamado High Kirk of Edinburgh (Gran Iglesia de Edimburgo). Su elemento más característico es su cúpula en forma de corona real. Es una de las dos parroquias de la Ciudad vieja de Edimburgo y está considerada como la iglesia madre del presbiterianismo y de la Iglesia de Escocia. No tiene oficialmente el título de catedral por la ausencia de éstas en la Iglesia de Escocia, aunque tuvo ese título en el pasado.
La iglesia actual data de finales del siglo XIV, siendo posteriormente restaurada en el siglo XIX. Tiene la categoría A de edificio protegido. La catedral está dedicada a San Giles, que es el santo patrono de Edimburgo y un santo muy popular en la Edad Media, patrono también de los tullidos y leprosos.
La Capilla Thistle (Capilla del Cardo) es una de las capillas más antiguas y es también la capilla de la Muy Noble Orden del Cardo, la orden de caballería más distinguida de Escocia. La capilla fue construida en 1911 en la esquina sureste de la iglesia. Es pequeña, pero con accesorios tallados y pintados, con extraordinario detalle. Una figura representa a un ángel tocando la gaita. La Orden, fundada por el rey Jacobo II de Inglaterra en 1687, está formada por el monarca y 16 caballeros. Los caballeros son nombrados personalmente por el monarca, normalmente son escoceses y son personas que han realizado una contribución significativa a asuntos nacionales o internacionales.
Excerpt from www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Review-g294217-d15618306-Reviews...:
Soaring over Victoria Harbour, Rosewood Hong Kong is a new centre of gravity on the Kowloon waterfront; the crown jewel of the Victoria Dockside arts and design district. On passing the gate and traversing the cobblestoned drive, the urban din falls away, revealing lush topiary and a serene forecourt that commands the harbour. A warm welcome heralds a stay of unparalleled comfort and distinctive hospitality.
The Great Tit is a lovely bird and has distinctive markings, with a black head and neck, white cheeks, olive upper body and yellow lower body. The Great Tit nests in cavities and the female lays around 12 eggs, its the female that incubates the eggs but when the eggs hatch both parents feed the young birds and they usually have two broods a year. The nest can get raided by woodpeckers, squirrels etc and the nest is usually infested with fleas. These birds are very vocal and have up to 40 types of calls and songs, the songs are generally the same within the sexes but the male is much more vocal.
LDN1235, more commonly known as the Shark Nebula, is a giantantic cloud of dark dust and gases (about 15 light years across) can found in the constellation #Cepheus. It's distinctive outline gives it its common name of Shark Nebula.
-= Tech Data =-
-Equipment-
Scope: Takahashi FSQ-106ED
Camera: QHY 600M
Mount: Paramount MX+
- Acquisition -
∙ 30 x 300 second exposures per filter
- Software -
Stacking: Astro Pixel Processor
Processing: PixInsight
Post Processing: Photoshop CC
Show from the IC Astronomy Observatory in Oria, Almería, Spain via Telescope Live.
A distinctive greyish warbler, the male has a black cap, and the female a chestnut one. Its delightful fluting song has earned it the name 'northern nightingale'. Although primarily a summer visitor birds from Germany and north-east Europe are increasingly spending the winter in the UK.
"White Pocket" is a distinctive rock formation in the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona USA.
Well worth the drive through sand and rocks!
This is in the "Arizona Strip", a large section of Arizona north of the Colorado River (Grand Canyon) only accessible by crossing the Navajo Bridge north of Flagstaff or going through Nevada and/or Utah.
The distinctive scars on a dolphin are the easiest ways to identify individuals.
Scars are caused by interaction with other dolphins, humans and even sharks
Bottlenose dolphin -
Tursiops
Firth Of Lorn nr Mull - Scotland
Many thanks as always to all those kind enough to stop by and comment, fave or even just look at my photos. It is very much appreciated.
DSC_5213
The distinctive figure of a Freightliner intermodal working crosses Welney Washes, Cambridgeshire on Thursday 2nd January 2025. The locomotive in question on this occasion was 66594. The 4L87 Tees Dock to Felixstowe North service is unusual in the fact that it has been top and tailed by 'Freds' for several months now. As a result, it gives this capture an impression that it westbound working, when in actual fact it is heading eastbound towards Ely.
The distinctive Crested Caracara “combines the raptorial instincts of the eagle with the base carrion-feeding habits of the vulture” Called ignoble, miserable, and aggressive, yet also dashing, stately, and noble, this medium-sized raptor, with its bold black-and-white plumage and bright yellow-orange face and legs, is easily recognizable as it perches conspicuously on a high point in the landscape. In flight it can be distinguished by its regular, powerful wing-beats as it cruises low across the ground or just above the treetops. Known locally in some areas as the “Mexican buzzard”, the Crested Caracara is an opportunist and is commonly seen walking about open fields, pastures, and road edges, feeding on a variety of invertebrate and vertebrate prey, as well as on carrion, often in the company of other avian scavengers. The name “caracara” is said to be of Guarani Indian origin, traro-traro, derived from the unusual rattling vocalization that the bird utters when agitated. A common subject of folklore and legends throughout Central and South America, the Crested Caracara is sometimes referred to as the "Mexican eagle."
I found this one along Canoe Creek Road finishing off some "Road Kill", in Osceola County, Florida.
An absolutely different and distinctive character. by George Edmund Street
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Love is a deep, tender, and an inexpressible emotion that is par beyond words and expression. by Jennie Gandhi
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Love is the sweetest gift nature can ever give anyone. It is a deep, tender, and an inexpressible emotion that is par beyond words and expression. This gentle and warm feeling of love and solicitude towards a person adds richness to life and make life more meaningful. It is one feeling in any relationship that keeps the bonding strong and powerful and something that lingers on even after our souls leave our body. The magic of love prevails till eternity, and spreads far beyond the reach of horizon.y Jennie Gandhi
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Words may be simple but it can alter someone’s life and make your life richer with a special relationship that you hold divine. by Jennie Gandhi
Martin’s distinctive painting technique persisted with subtle variations throughout her life. Working on a six-foot square canvas covered with white gesso, she applied finely rendered pencil lines in groups, sometimes arrayed in a grid. Later she used subtle washes of colour to fill the spaces between parallel lines. This work relates to a pair of early paintings, both titled “White Flower,” from 1960. Uncomfortable being associated with minimalism – which she found austere and cerebral – and resolutely independent of prevailing styles in art, Martin nevertheless influenced many of her peers. Sol LeWitt’s “wall drawings” – an example of which can be seen in gallery B105 – owe much to Martin’s work.
DISTINCTIVE and well marked, wetland warbler, that has a lively and distinctive song, thats aids location and identification. A summer visitor, favors marshy vegetation, scrub on the fringes of reed beds. Lots of LBBs coming up, will try to space them out. (Little brown birds)
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND KIND COMMENTS! it is very appreciated, sun is holding on in Kent, for another day, so am on my way out, taking my camera for a walk. Stay safe, God Bless.
......................Tomx.
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"GODs LOVE FOR YOU IS UNCONDITIONAL !"
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southernmost portion in Georgia, then ending northward in Pennsylvania. To the west of the Blue Ridge, between it and the bulk of the Appalachians, lies the Great Appalachian Valley, bordered on the west by the Ridge and Valley province of the Appalachian range.
The Blue Ridge Mountains are noted for having a bluish color when seen from a distance. Trees put the "blue" in Blue Ridge, from the isoprene released into the atmosphere, thereby contributing to the characteristic haze on the mountains and their distinctive color.
Within the Blue Ridge province are two major national parks: the Shenandoah National Park, in the northern section, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, in the southern section. The Blue Ridge also contains the Blue Ridge Parkway, a 469-mile (755 km) long scenic highway that connects the two parks and is located along the ridge crestlines with the Appalachian Trail.
Data above originated from the following website below:
Chameleons are a distinctive and highly specialised clade of Old World lizards with 202 species described as of June 2015. These species come in a range of colours, and many species have the ability to change colour.
Chameleons are distinguished by their zygodactylous feet; their very extensive, highly modified, rapidly extrudable tongues; their swaying gait; and crests or horns on their brow and snout.
Most species, the larger ones in particular, also have a prehensile tail. Chameleons' eyes are independently mobile, but in aiming at a prey item, they focus forward in coordination, affording the animal stereoscopic vision.
Male panther chameleons can grow up to 20 centimetres (7.9 in) in length, panther chameleons have a typical length of around 17 centimetres (6.7 in). Females are smaller, at about half the size. In a form of sexual dimorphism, males are more vibrantly coloured than the females.
Coloration varies with location, and the different colour patterns of panther chameleons are commonly referred to as 'locales', which are named after the geographical location in which they are found.
Panther chameleons from the areas of Nosy Be, Ankify, and Ambanja are typically a vibrant blue, and those from Ambilobe, Antsiranana, and Sambava are red, green or orange. The areas of Maroantsetra and Tamatave yield primarily red specimens.
Numerous other colour phases and patterns occur between and within regions. Females generally remain tan and brown with hints of pink, peach, or bright orange, no matter where they are found, but there are slight differences in patterns and colorus among the different colour phases.
This image was taken on the Island of Nosy Be, off the north coast of Madagascar
This large and distinctively-coloured pigeon is a familiar sight to many New Zealanders. This is because the New Zealand pigeon (or kereru) has a widespread distribution through the country, being present in extensive tracts of native forest, and rural and urban habitats, including most cities. As well as allowing close approach, it often roosts conspicuously, such as on powerlines or on the tops of trees. The distinctive sound of its wing beats in flight also draws attention. Kereru also frequently feature on works of art, such as paintings and sculptures. However, even though it is widespread, like many forest birds its abundance is severely compromised by introduced mammals, particularly possums, stoats and ship rats. Only where these pests are not present (predator-free islands) or are controlled to low levels do kereru populations thrive.
Pennsy position light signals still guard East Crest, the west end of double-track on NS's Fort Wayne Line, the former PRR main to Chicago.
We spent a couple hours in Crestline this day, but unfortunately never got to see a train split the signals. My understanding is traffic is way down on the line these days.
Crestline, OH
January 14th, 2022
The distinctive twin towers of the Lizard Lighthouse mark the most southerly point of mainland Britain at Lizard Point in Cornwall. This is an extremely dangerous coastline with numerous rocks lurking just below the surface of the sea as well as above.
A light was first exhibited here in 1619, built thanks to the efforts of Sir John Killigrew, but it was extinguished and the tower demolished in 1630 because of difficulties in raising funds for its operation and maintenance.
The current lighthouse, consisting of two towers with cottages between them, was built in 1751. Trinity House took responsibility for it in 1771, and it was automated in 1998. Originally both towers were lit, but since 1903 only the Eastern Tower has remained in use. The lighthouse complex with its various buildings (also seen below) is believed to be the largest in the world.
I met him on Bandra Hill Road liked his look , his turban , his peaceful attitude and shot a few frames.
He belongs to the Sikh religion.
about Sikhism
Sikhism,[1] founded in fifteenth century Punjab on the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev and ten successive Sikh Gurus (the last one being the sacred text Guru Granth Sahib), is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world.[2] This system of religious philosophy and expression has been traditionally known as the Gurmat (literally the counsel of the gurus) or the Sikh Dharma. Sikhism originated from the word Sikh, which in turn comes from the Sanskrit root śiṣya meaning "disciple" or "learner", or śikṣa meaning "instruction".[3][4]
The principal belief of Sikhism is faith in waheguru—represented using the sacred symbol of ik ōaṅkār, the Universal God. Sikhism advocates the pursuit of salvation through disciplined, personal meditation on the name and message of God. A key distinctive feature of Sikhism is a non-anthropomorphic concept of God, to the extent that one can interpret God as the Universe itself. The followers of Sikhism are ordained to follow the teachings of the ten Sikh gurus, or enlightened leaders, as well as the holy scripture entitled the Gurū Granth Sāhib, which, along with the writings of six of the ten Sikh Gurus, includes selected works of many devotees from diverse socio-economic and religious backgrounds. The text was decreed by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth guru, as the final guru of the Khalsa Panth. Sikhism's traditions and teachings are distinctively associated with the history, society and culture of the Punjab. Adherents of Sikhism are known as Sikhs (students or disciples) and number over 23 million across the world. Most Sikhs live in Punjab in India and, until India's partition, millions of Sikhs lived in what is now Pakistani Punjab.[5]
The origins of Sikhism lie in the teachings of Guru Nanak and his successors. The essence of Sikh teaching is summed up by Nanak in these words: "Realisation of Truth is higher than all else. Higher still is truthful living".[6] Sikhism believes in equality of all humans and rejects discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, and gender. Sikhism also does not attach any importance to asceticism as a means to attain salvation, but stresses on the need of leading life as a householder.
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion.[7][8] In Sikhism, God—termed Vāhigurū—is shapeless, timeless, and sightless: niraṅkār, akāl, and alakh. The beginning of the first composition of Sikh scripture is the figure "1"—signifying the universality of God. It states that God is omnipresent and infinite, and is signified by the term ēk ōaṅkār.[9] Sikhs believe that before creation, all that existed was God and Its hukam (will or order).[10] When God willed, the entire cosmos was created. From these beginnings, God nurtured "enticement and attachment" to māyā, or the human perception of reality.[11]
While a full understanding of God is beyond human beings,[9] Nanak described God as not wholly unknowable. God is omnipresent (sarav viāpak) in all creation and visible everywhere to the spiritually awakened. Nanak stressed that God must be seen from "the inward eye", or the "heart", of a human being: devotees must meditate to progress towards enlightenment. Guru Nanak Dev emphasized the revelation through meditation, as its rigorous application permits the existence of communication between God and human beings.[9] God has no gender in Sikhism, (though translations may incorrectly present a male God); indeed Sikhism teaches that God is "Nirankar" [Niran meaning "without" and kar meaning "form", hence "without form"]. In addition, Nanak wrote that there are many worlds on which God has created life.[12]
[edit] Pursuing salvation and khalsa
A Sikh man at the Harimandir Sahib
Nanak's teachings are founded not on a final destination of heaven or hell, but on a spiritual union with God which results in salvation.[13] The chief obstacles to the attainment of salvation are social conflicts and an attachment to worldly pursuits, which commit men and women to an endless cycle of birth—a concept known as reincarnation.
Māyā—defined as illusion or "unreality"—is one of the core deviations from the pursuit of God and salvation: people are distracted from devotion by worldly attractions which give only illusive satisfaction. However, Nanak emphasised māyā as not a reference to the unreality of the world, but of its values. In Sikhism, the influences of ego, anger, greed, attachment, and lust—known as the Five Evils—are believed to be particularly pernicious. The fate of people vulnerable to the Five Evils is separation from God, and the situation may be remedied only after intensive and relentless devotion.[14]
Nanak described God's revelation—the path to salvation—with terms such as nām (the divine Name) and śabad (the divine Word) to emphasise the totality of the revelation. Nanak designated the word guru (meaning teacher) as the voice of God and the source and guide for knowledge and salvation.[15] Salvation can be reached only through rigorous and disciplined devotion to God. Nanak distinctly emphasised the irrelevance of outward observations such as rites, pilgrimages, or asceticism. He stressed that devotion must take place through the heart, with the spirit and the soul.
A key practice to be pursued is nām: remembrance of the divine Name. The verbal repetition of the name of God or a sacred syllable is an established practice in religious traditions in India, but Nanak's interpretation emphasized inward, personal observance. Nanak's ideal is the total exposure of one's being to the divine Name and a total conforming to Dharma or the "Divine Order". Nanak described the result of the disciplined application of nām simraṇ as a "growing towards and into God" through a gradual process of five stages. The last of these is sac khaṇḍ (The Realm of Truth)—the final union of the spirit with God.[15]
Nanak stressed now kirat karō: that a Sikh should balance work, worship, and charity, and should defend the rights of all creatures, and in particular, fellow human beings. They are encouraged to have a chaṛdī kalā, or optimistic, view of life. Sikh teachings also stress the concept of sharing—vaṇḍ chakkō—through the distribution of free food at Sikh gurdwaras (laṅgar), giving charitable donations, and working for the good of the community and others (sēvā).
[edit] The ten gurus and religious authority
Main article: Sikh Gurus
A rare Tanjore-style painting from the late 19th century depicting the ten Sikh Gurus with Bhai Bala and Bhai Mardana.
The term guru comes from the Sanskrit gurū, meaning teacher, guide, or mentor. The traditions and philosophy of Sikhism were established by ten specific gurus from 1499 to 1708. Each guru added to and reinforced the message taught by the previous, resulting in the creation of the Sikh religion. Nanak was the first guru and appointed a disciple as successor. Gobind Singh was the final guru in human form. Before his death, Gobind Singh decreed that the Gurū Granth Sāhib would be the final and perpetual guru of the Sikhs.[16] The Sikhs believe that the spirit of Nanak was passed from one guru to the next, " just as the light of one lamp, which lights another and does not diminish ",[17] and is also mentioned in their holy book.
After Nanak's passing, the most important phase in the development of Sikhism came with the third successor, Amar Das. Nanak's teachings emphasised the pursuit of salvation; Amar Das began building a cohesive community of followers with initiatives such as sanctioning distinctive ceremonies for birth, marriage, and death. Amar Das also established the manji (comparable to a diocese) system of clerical supervision.[15]
The interior of the Akal Takht
Amar Das's successor and son-in-law Ram Das founded the city of Amritsar, which is home of the Harimandir Sahib and regarded widely as the holiest city for all Sikhs. When Ram Das's youngest son Arjan succeeded him, the line of male gurus from the Sodhi Khatri family was established: all succeeding gurus were direct descendants of this line. Arjun Mathur was responsible for compiling the Sikh scriptures. Guru Arjan Sahib was captured by Mughal authorities who were suspicious and hostile to the religious order he was developing.[18] His persecution and death inspired his successors to promote a military and political organization of Sikh communities to defend themselves against the attacks of Mughal forces.
The Sikh gurus established a mechanism which allowed the Sikh religion to react as a community to changing circumstances. The sixth guru, Har Gobind, was responsible for the creation of the concept of Akal Takht (throne of the timeless one), which serves as the supreme decision-making centre of Sikhdom and sits opposite the Darbar Sahib. The Sarbat Ḵẖālsā (a representative portion of the Khalsa Panth) historically gathers at the Akal Takht on special festivals such as Vaisakhi or Diwali and when there is a need to discuss matters that affect the entire Sikh nation. A gurmatā (literally, guru's intention) is an order passed by the Sarbat Ḵẖālsā in the presence of the Gurū Granth Sāhib. A gurmatā may only be passed on a subject that affects the fundamental principles of Sikh religion; it is binding upon all Sikhs.[19] The term hukamnāmā (literally, edict or royal order) is often used interchangeably with the term gurmatā. However, a hukamnāmā formally refers to a hymn from the Gurū Granth Sāhib which is given as an order to Sikhs.
[edit] History
Main article: History of Sikhism
Nanak (1469–1538), the founder of Sikhism, was born in the village of Rāi Bhōi dī Talwandī, now called Nankana Sahib (in present-day Pakistan).[20] His father, Mehta Kalu was a Patwari, an accountant of land revenue in the employment of Rai Bular Bhatti, the area landlord. Nanak's mother was Tripta Devi and he had one older sister, Nanaki. His parents were Khatri Hindus of the Bedi clan. As a boy, Nanak was fascinated by religion, and his desire to explore the mysteries of life eventually led him to leave home and take missionary journeys.
In his early teens, Nanak caught the attention of the local landlord Rai Bular Bhatti, who was moved by his intellect and divine qualities. Rai Bular was witness to many incidents in which Nanak enchanted him and as a result Rai Bular and Nanak's sister Bibi Nanki, became the first persons to recognise the divine qualities in Nanak. Both of them then encouraged and supported Nanak to study and travel. Sikh tradition states that at the age of thirty, Nanak went missing and was presumed to have drowned after going for one of his morning baths to a local stream called the Kali Bein. One day, he declared: "There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim" (in Punjabi, "nā kōi hindū nā kōi musalmān"). It was from this moment that Nanak would begin to spread the teachings of what was then the beginning of Sikhism.[21] Although the exact account of his itinerary is disputed, he is widely acknowledged to have made four major journeys, spanning thousands of kilometres, the first tour being east towards Bengal and Assam, the second south towards Tamil Nadu, the third north towards Kashmir, Ladakh, and Tibet, and the final tour west towards Baghdad and Mecca.[22]
Nanak was married to Sulakhni, the daughter of Moolchand Chona, a rice trader from the town of Bakala. They had two sons. The elder son, Sri Chand, was an ascetic, and he came to have a considerable following of his own, known as the Udasis. The younger son, Lakshmi Das, on the other hand, was totally immersed in worldly life. To Nanak, who believed in the ideal of rāj maiṁ jōg (detachment in civic life), both his sons were unfit to carry on the Guruship.
[edit] Growth of the Sikh community
In 1538, Nanak chose his disciple Lahiṇā, a Khatri of the Trehan clan, as a successor to the guruship rather than either of his sons. Lahiṇā was named Angad Dev and became the second guru of the Sikhs.[23] Nanak conferred his choice at the town of Kartarpur on the banks of the river Ravi, where Nanak had finally settled down after his travels. Though Sri Chand was not an ambitious man, the Udasis believed that the Guruship should have gone to him, since he was a man of pious habits in addition to being Nanak's son. They refused to accept Angad's succession. On Nanak's advice, Angad shifted from Kartarpur to Khadur, where his wife Khivi and children were living, until he was able to bridge the divide between his followers and the Udasis. Angad continued the work started by Nanak and is widely credited for standardising the Gurmukhī script as used in the sacred scripture of the Sikhs.
Amar Das, a Khatri of the Bhalla clan, became the third Sikh guru in 1552 at the age of 73. Goindval became an important centre for Sikhism during the guruship of Amar Das. He preached the principle of equality for women by prohibiting purdah and sati. Amar Das also encouraged the practice of langar and made all those who visited him attend laṅgar before they could speak to him.[24] In 1567, Emperor Akbar sat with the ordinary and poor people of Punjab to have laṅgar. Amar Das also trained 146 apostles of which 52 were women, to manage the rapid expansion of the religion.[25] Before he died in 1574 aged 95, he appointed his son-in-law Jēṭhā, a Khatri of the Sodhi clan, as the fourth Sikh guru.
Jēṭhā became Ram Das and vigorously undertook his duties as the new guru. He is responsible for the establishment of the city of Ramdaspur later to be named Amritsar. Before Ramdaspur, Amritsar was known as Guru Da Chakk. In 1581, Arjan Dev—youngest son of the fourth guru—became the fifth guru of the Sikhs. In addition to being responsible for building the Darbar/Harimandir Sahib (called the Golden Temple), he prepared the Sikh sacred text known as the Ādi Granth (literally the first book) and included the writings of the first five gurus. In 1606, for refusing to make changes to the Granth and for supporting an unsuccessful contender to the throne, he was tortured and killed by the Mughal Emperor, Jahangir.[26]
[edit] Political advancement
Hargobind, became the sixth guru of the Sikhs. He carried two swords—one for spiritual and the other for temporal reasons (known as mīrī and pīrī in Sikhism).[27] Sikhs grew as an organized community and under the 10th Guru the Sikhs developed a trained fighting force to defend their independence. In 1644, Har Rai became guru followed by Harkrishan, the boy guru, in 1661. No hymns composed by these three gurus are included in the Sikh holy book.[28]
Tegh Bahadur became guru in 1665 and led the Sikhs until 1675. Teg Bahadur was executed by Aurangzeb for helping to protect Hindus, after a delegation of Kashmiri Pandits came to him for help when the Emperor condemned them to death for failing to convert to Islam.[29] He was succeeded by his son, Gobind Rai who was just nine years old at the time of his father's death. Gobind Rai further militarised his followers, and was baptised by the Pañj Piārē when he formed the Khalsa on 13 April 1699. From here on in he was known as Gobind Singh.
From the time of Nanak, when it was a loose collection of followers who focused entirely on the attainment of salvation and God, the Sikh community had significantly transformed. Even though the core Sikh religious philosophy was never affected, the followers now began to develop a political identity. Conflict with Mughal authorities escalated during the lifetime of Teg Bahadur and Gobind Singh. The latter founded the Khalsa in 1699. The Khalsa is a disciplined community that combines its religious purpose and goals with political and military duties.[30] After Aurangzeb killed four of his sons, Gobind Singh sent Aurangzeb the Zafarnamah (Notification/Epistle of Victory).
Shortly before his death, Gobind Singh ordered that the Gurū Granth Sāhib (the Sikh Holy Scripture), would be the ultimate spiritual authority for the Sikhs and temporal authority would be vested in the Khalsa Panth—the Sikh Nation/Community.[16] The first scripture was compiled and edited by the fifth guru, Arjan Dev, in 1604.
A former ascetic was charged by Gobind Singh with the duty of punishing those who had persecuted the Sikhs. After the guru's death, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur became the leader of the Sikh army and was responsible for several attacks on the Mughal empire. He was executed by the emperor Jahandar Shah after refusing the offer of a pardon if he converted to Islam.[31]
The Sikh community's embrace of military and political organisation made it a considerable regional force in medieval India and it continued to evolve after the demise of the gurus. After the death of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, a Sikh Confederacy of Sikh warrior bands known as misls formed. With the decline of the Mughal empire, a Sikh Empire arose in the Punjab under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, with its capital in Lahore and limits reaching the Khyber Pass and the borders of China. The order, traditions and discipline developed over centuries culminated at the time of Ranjit Singh to give rise to the common religious and social identity that the term "Sikhism" describes.[32]
After the death of Ranjit Singh, the Sikh Empire fell into disorder and was eventually annexed by the United Kingdom after the hard-fought Anglo-Sikh Wars. This brought the Punjab under the British Raj. Sikhs formed the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and the Shiromani Akali Dal to preserve Sikhs' religious and political organization a quarter of a century later. With the partition of India in 1947, thousands of Sikhs were killed in violence and millions were forced to leave their ancestral homes in West Punjab.[33] Sikhs faced initial opposition from the Government in forming a linguistic state that other states in India were afforded. The Akali Dal started a non-violence movement for Sikh and Punjabi rights. Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale emerged as a leader of the Bhindran-Mehta Jatha—which assumed the name of Damdami Taksal in 1977 to promote a peaceful solution of the problem. In June 1984, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ordered the Indian army to launch Operation Blue Star to remove Bhindranwale and his followers from the Darbar Sahib. Bhindranwale, and a large number of innocent pilgrims were killed during the army's operations. In October, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards. The assassination was followed by the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots massacre[34] and Hindu-Sikh conflicts in Punjab, as a reaction to the assassination and Operation Blue Star.
[edit] Scripture
There are two primary sources of scripture for the Sikhs: the Gurū Granth Sāhib and the Dasam Granth. The Gurū Granth Sāhib may be referred to as the Ādi Granth—literally, The First Volume—and the two terms are often used synonymously. Here, however, the Ādi Granth refers to the version of the scripture created by Arjan Dev in 1604. The Gurū Granth Sāhib refers to the final version of the scripture created by Gobind Singh.
[edit] Adi Granth
Main article: Ādi Granth
The Ādi Granth was compiled primarily by Bhai Gurdas under the supervision of Arjan Dev between the years 1603 and 1604.[35] It is written in the Gurmukhī script, which is a descendant of the Laṇḍā script used in the Punjab at that time.[36] The Gurmukhī script was standardised by Angad Dev, the second guru of the Sikhs, for use in the Sikh scriptures and is thought to have been influenced by the Śāradā and Devanāgarī scripts. An authoritative scripture was created to protect the integrity of hymns and teachings of the Sikh gurus and selected bhagats. At the time, Arjan Sahib tried to prevent undue influence from the followers of Prithi Chand, the guru's older brother and rival.[37]
The original version of the Ādi Granth is known as the kartārpur bīṛ and is claimed to be held by the Sodhi family of Kartarpur.[citation needed] (In fact the original volume was burned by Ahmad Shah Durrani's army in 1757 when they burned the whole town of Kartarpur.)[citation needed]
[edit] Guru Granth Sahib
Gurū Granth Sāhib folio with Mūl Mantra
Main article: Gurū Granth Sāhib
The final version of the Gurū Granth Sāhib was compiled by Gobind Singh in 1678. It consists of the original Ādi Granth with the addition of Teg Bahadur's hymns. It was decreed by Gobind Singh that the Granth was to be considered the eternal guru of all Sikhs; however, this tradition is not mentioned either in 'Guru Granth Sahib' or in 'Dasam Granth'.
Punjabi: ਸੱਬ ਸਿੱਖਣ ਕੋ ਹੁਕਮ ਹੈ ਗੁਰੂ ਮਾਨਯੋ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ।
Transliteration: Sabb sikkhaṇ kō hukam hai gurū mānyō granth.
English: All Sikhs are commanded to take the Granth as Guru.
It contains compositions by the first five gurus, Teg Bahadur and just one śalōk (couplet) from Gobind Singh.[38] It also contains the traditions and teachings of sants (saints) such as Kabir, Namdev, Ravidas, and Sheikh Farid along with several others.[32]
The bulk of the scripture is classified into rāgs, with each rāg subdivided according to length and author. There are 31 main rāgs within the Gurū Granth Sāhib. In addition to the rāgs, there are clear references to the folk music of Punjab. The main language used in the scripture is known as Sant Bhāṣā, a language related to both Punjabi and Hindi and used extensively across medieval northern India by proponents of popular devotional religion.[30] The text further comprises over 5000 śabads, or hymns, which are poetically constructed and set to classical form of music rendition, can be set to predetermined musical tāl, or rhythmic beats.
A group of Sikh musicians at the Golden Temple complex
The Granth begins with the Mūl Mantra, an iconic verse created by Nanak:
Punjabi: ੴ ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਅਜੂਨੀ ਸੈਭੰ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥
ISO 15919 transliteration: Ika ōaṅkāra sati nāmu karatā purakhu nirabha'u niravairu akāla mūrati ajūnī saibhaṅ gura prasādi.
Simplified transliteration: Ik ōaṅkār sat nām kartā purkh nirbha'u nirvair akāl mūrat ajūnī saibhaṅ gur prasād.
English: One Universal Creator God, The Name Is Truth, Creative Being Personified, No Fear, No Hatred, Image Of The Timeless One, Beyond Birth, Self Existent, By Guru's Grace.
All text within the Granth is known as gurbānī. Gurbānī, according to Nanak, was revealed by God directly, and the authors wrote it down for the followers. The status accorded to the scripture is defined by the evolving interpretation of the concept of gurū. In the Sant tradition of Nanak, the guru was literally the word of God. The Sikh community soon transferred the role to a line of men who gave authoritative and practical expression to religious teachings and traditions, in addition to taking socio-political leadership of Sikh adherents. Gobind Singh declared an end of the line of human gurus, and now the Gurū Granth Sāhib serves as the eternal guru, with its interpretation vested with the community.[30]
[edit] Dasam Granth
Main article: Dasam Granth
A frontispiece to the Dasam Granth
The Dasam Granth (formally dasvēṁ pātśāh kī granth or The Book of the Tenth Master) is an eighteenth-century collection of poems by Gobind Singh. It was compiled in the shape of a book (granth) by Bhai Mani Singh some 13 to 26 years after Guru Gobind Singh Ji left this world for his heavenly abode.
From 1895 to 1897, different scholars and theologians assembled at the Akal Takht, Amritsar, to study the 32 printed Dasam Granths and prepare the authoritative version. They met at the Akal Takhat at Amritsar, and held formal discussions in a series of meetings between 13 June 1895 and 16 February 1896. A preliminary report entitled Report Sodhak (revision) Committee Dasam Patshah de Granth Sahib Di was sent to Sikh scholars and institutions, inviting their opinion. A second document, Report Dasam Granth di Sudhai Di was brought out on 11 February 1898. Basing its conclusions on a study of the old handwritten copies of the Dasam Granth preserved at Sri Takht Sahib at Patna and in other Sikh gurudwaras, this report affirmed that the Holy Volume was compiled at Anandpur Sahib in 1698[3] . Further re-examinations and reviews took place in 1931, under the aegis of the Darbar Sahib Committee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee. They, too, vindicated the earlier conclusion (agreeing that it was indeed the work of the Guru) and its findings have since been published.
[edit] Janamsakhis
Main article: Janamsākhīs
The Janamsākhīs (literally birth stories), are writings which profess to be biographies of Nanak. Although not scripture in the strictest sense, they provide an interesting look at Nanak's life and the early start of Sikhism. There are several—often contradictory and sometimes unreliable—Janamsākhīs and they are not held in the same regard as other sources of scriptural knowledge.
[edit] Observances
Observant Sikhs adhere to long-standing practices and traditions to strengthen and express their faith. The daily recitation from memory of specific passages from the Gurū Granth Sāhib, especially the Japu (or Japjī, literally chant) hymns is recommended immediately after rising and bathing. Family customs include both reading passages from the scripture and attending the gurdwara (also gurduārā, meaning the doorway to God; sometimes transliterated as gurudwara). There are many gurdwaras prominently constructed and maintained across India, as well as in almost every nation where Sikhs reside. Gurdwaras are open to all, regardless of religion, background, caste, or race.
Worship in a gurdwara consists chiefly of singing of passages from the scripture. Sikhs will commonly enter the temple, touch the ground before the holy scripture with their foreheads, and make an offering. The recitation of the eighteenth century ardās is also customary for attending Sikhs. The ardās recalls past sufferings and glories of the community, invoking divine grace for all humanity.[39]
The most sacred shrine is the Harimandir Sahib in Amritsar, famously known as the Golden Temple. Groups of Sikhs regularly visit and congregate at the Harimandir Sahib. On specific occasions, groups of Sikhs are permitted to undertake a pilgrimage to Sikh shrines in the province of Punjab in Pakistan, especially at Nankana Sahib and other Gurdwaras. Other places of interest to Sikhism in Pakistan includes the samādhī (place of cremation) of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Lahore.
[edit] Sikh festivals
Festivals in Sikhism mostly centre around the lives of the Gurus and Sikh martyrs. The SGPC, the Sikh organisation in charge of upkeep of the gurdwaras, organises celebrations based on the new Nanakshahi calendar. This calendar is highly controversial among Sikhs and is not universally accepted. Several festivals (Hola Mohalla, Diwali, and Nanak's birthday) continue to be celebrated using the Hindu calendar. Sikh festivals include the following:
* Gurpurabs are celebrations or commemorations based on the lives of the Sikh gurus. They tend to be either birthdays or celebrations of Sikh martyrdom. All ten Gurus have Gurpurabs on the Nanakshahi calendar, but it is Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Gobind Singh who have a gurpurab that is widely celebrated in Gurdwaras and Sikh homes. The martyrdoms are also known as a shaheedi Gurpurab, which mark the martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev and Guru Tegh Bahadur.
* Vaisakhi or Baisakhi normally occurs on 13 April and marks the beginning of the new spring year and the end of the harvest. Sikhs celebrate it because on Vaisakhi in 1699, the tenth guru, Gobind Singh, laid down the Foundation of the Khalsa an Independent Sikh Identity.
* Bandi Chhor Divas or Diwali celebrates Hargobind's release from the Gwalior Fort, with several innocent Hindu kings who were also imprisoned by Jahangir, on 26 October, 1619.
* Hola Mohalla occurs the day after Holi and is when the Khalsa Panth gather at Anandpur and display their warrior skills, including fighting and riding.
[edit] Ceremonies and customs
The anand kāraj (Sikh marriage) ceremony
Nanak taught that rituals, religious ceremonies, or idol worship is of little use and Sikhs are discouraged from fasting or going on pilgrimages.[40] However, during the period of the later gurus, and owing to increased institutionalisation of the religion, some ceremonies and rites did arise. Sikhism is not a proselytizing religion and most Sikhs do not make active attempts to gain converts. However, converts to Sikhism are welcomed, although there is no formal conversion ceremony. The morning and evening prayers take about two hours a day, starting in the very early morning hours. The first morning prayer is Guru Nanak's Jap Ji. Jap, meaning "recitation", refers to the use of sound, as the best way of approaching the divine. Like combing hair, hearing and reciting the sacred word is used as a way to comb all negative thoughts out of the mind. The second morning prayer is Guru Gobind Singh's universal Jaap Sahib. The Guru addresses God as having no form, no country, and no religion but as the seed of seeds, sun of suns, and the song of songs. The Jaap Sahib asserts that God is the cause of conflict as well as peace, and of destruction as well as creation. Devotees learn that there is nothing outside of God's presence, nothing outside of God's control. Devout Sikhs are encouraged to begin the day with private meditations on the name of God.
Upon a child's birth, the Guru Granth Sāhib is opened at a random point and the child is named using the first letter on the top left-hand corner of the left page. All boys are given the middle name or surname Singh, and all girls are given the middle name or surname Kaur.[41] Sikhs are joined in wedlock through the anand kāraj ceremony. Sikhs are required to marry when they are of a sufficient age (child marriage is taboo), and without regard for the future spouse's caste or descent. The marriage ceremony is performed in the company of the Guru Granth Sāhib; around which the couple circles four times. After the ceremony is complete, the husband and wife are considered "a single soul in two bodies."[42]
According to Sikh religious rites, neither husband nor wife is permitted to divorce. A Sikh couple that wishes to divorce may be able to do so in a civil court—but this is not condoned.[43] Upon death, the body of a Sikh is usually cremated. If this is not possible, any means of disposing the body may be employed. The kīrtan sōhilā and ardās prayers are performed during the funeral ceremony (known as antim sanskār).[44]
[edit] Baptism and the Khalsa
A kaṛā, kaṅghā and kirpān.
Khalsa (meaning pure) is the name given by Gobind Singh to all Sikhs who have been baptised or initiated by taking ammrit in a ceremony called ammrit sañcār. The first time that this ceremony took place was on Vaisakhi, which fell on 29 March 1698/1699 at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab. It was on that occasion that Gobind Singh baptised the Pañj Piārē who in turn baptised Gobind Singh himself.
Baptised Sikhs are bound to wear the Five Ks (in Punjabi known as pañj kakkē or pañj kakār), or articles of faith, at all times. The tenth guru, Gobind Singh, ordered these Five Ks to be worn so that a Sikh could actively use them to make a difference to their own and to others' spirituality. The 5 items are: kēs (uncut hair), kaṅghā (small comb), kaṛā (circular iron bracelet), kirpān (dagger), and kacchā (special undergarment). The Five Ks have both practical and symbolic purposes.[45]
[edit] Sikh people
Main article: Sikh
Further information: Sikhism by country
Punjabi Sikh family from Punjab, India
Worldwide, there are 25.8 million Sikhs and approximately 75% of Sikhs live in the Indian state of Punjab, where they constitute about 60% of the state's population. Even though there are a large number of Sikhs in the world, certain countries have not recognised Sikhism as a major religion and Sikhism has no relation to Hinduism. Large communities of Sikhs live in the neighboring states, and large communities of Sikhs can be found across India. However, Sikhs only make up about 2% of the Indian population.
In addition to social divisions, there is a misperception that there are a number of Sikh sectarian groups[clarification needed], such as Namdharis and Nirankaris. Nihangs tend to have little difference in practice and are considered the army of Sikhism. There is also a sect known as Udasi, founded by Sri Chand who were initially part of Sikhism but later developed into a monastic order.
Sikh Migration beginning from the 19th century led to the creation of significant communities in Canada (predominantly in Brampton, along with Malton in Ontario and Surrey in British Columbia), East Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, the United Kingdom and more recently, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Western Europe. Smaller populations of Sikhs are found in Mauritius, Malaysia, Fiji, Nepal, China, Pakistan, Afganistan, Iraq and many other countries
Distinctive two-tone bodyside treatments on Bel Airs imparted a look of motion -- even when standing still. Graceful front and rear wheel openings completed the "speedline" restyling.
Distinctive brushfinch found only at high elevations in the western Andes of Peru. The only brushfinch in Peru with a tawny belly and black head. Also note the tiny black mustache and the white throat. Some birds have white speckling on their heads. Inhabits dry slopes with bushes and scattered taller trees. Vocalizations include a rich, descending chatter and an irregular series of chips.
Look carefully and you will see the blurry shape of a Peruvian Sheartail hummingbird by the flower. I didn't notice it until I processed this photo!
Vicas, Peru. October 2018.
Entoloma hochstetteri, also known as the blue pinkgill, sky-blue mushroom or similar names, is a species of mushroom that is native to New Zealand. The small mushroom is a distinctive all-blue colour, while the gills have a slight reddish tint from the spores. The blue colouring of the fruit body is due to three azulene pigments [citation needed] Whether Entoloma hochstetteri is poisonous or not is unknown.
The Māori name for the mushroom is werewere-kokako, because its colour is similar to the blue wattle of the kōkako bird.
This species was one of six native fungi featured in a set of fungal stamps issued in New Zealand in 2002. It is also featured on the New Zealand fifty-dollar note.With E. hochstetteri's inclusion, this makes it the only banknote in the world which features a mushroom on it.In a 2018 poll, E. hochstetteri was ranked first by Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research for its pick as New Zealand's national fungus.
The species was first described as Cortinarius hochstetteri in 1866 by the Austrian mycologist Erwin Reichardt, before being given its current binomial in 1962 by Greta Stevenson. It is named after the German-Austrian naturalist Ferdinand von Hochstetter.
In 1976 Egon Horak combined Entoloma hochstetteri and Entoloma aeruginosum from Japan with Entoloma virescens, first described from the Bonin Islands in Japan. In 1989 S. Dhancholia recorded E. hochstetteri in India. In 1990 Tsuguo Hongo from Japan examined E. hochstetteri and E. aeruginosum and concluded that they were different taxa, because of difference in the size of the spores and the shape of the pseudocystidia. In 2008 Horak recognized E. hochstetteri as a different species from E. virescens, while noting that "it is open to speculation" whether taxa such as E. virescens are the same species.
A similar mushroom is found in Australia and amateur mycologists differ as to whether it is E. hochstetteri, E. virescens or a separate species.
Entoloma hochstetteri has a small delicate epigeous (above-ground) fruit body (basidiocarp). The cap may be up to 4 cm (1.4 in) in diameter and conical in shape. The cap colour is indigo-blue with a green tint, and is fibrillose. The cap margin is striate and rolled inwards. The gill attachment is adnexed or emarginate, gills are thin and 3–5 mm wide, essentially the same colour as the cap, sometimes with a yellow tint. The cylindrical stipe (stalk) is up to 5 cm (2 in) long by 0.5 cm thick, fibrillose and stuffed. The spore print is reddish-pink. The spores are 9.9–13.2 by 11.8–13.2 μm, tetrahedric in shape, hyaline, smooth and thin-walled. The basidia are 35.2–44.2 by 8.8–13.2 µm, club-shaped, hyaline, and with two or four sterigmata.
Entoloma hochstetteri is common in forests throughout New Zealand, where it grows on soil among litter in broadleaf/podocarp forest. It fruits in January to July.
It was also reported from India in 1989 and from Australia, though it is unclear whether these are the same species or whether E. hochstetteri is endemic to New Zealand.
The Ngāi Tūhoe describe that the Kōkako bird (Callaeas wilsoni) got its blue wattles from it rubbing its cheek against the mushroom. Thus giving the mushroom the title of werewere-kokako.
(from Wikipedia)
The distinctive octagonal tower of St Mary's just visible above the beautiful, tiny village museum built in 1617.
The village sits in the Vale of the White Horse, directly below the carving of the horse itself and has been closely connected to it for thousands of years.
The architecture of the village reflects its geology; no local stone except the soft chalk from the Berkshire Downs directly to the south, strengthened by brick surrounds, but the the northern lip of the vale is a ridge of limestone from the Cotswolds, hence the fine stone roofs.
A small yellowish finch with prominent wing-bars. Male is attractive and distinctive, with a yellow face and breast offset by a black cap and small chin patch. Female streaky overall, often with yellowish tones; note especially the yellow wing and tail flashes of both sexes. Inhabits mixed and coniferous woodland and forest; also found in parks and gardens, and visits seed feeders.
Often in flocks, mainly in the autumn and winter.
Amidst the bustling streets of Kathmandu, near Shree Pashupatinath, I came across a scene that has become emblematic of the city—an old man dressed in yellow robes, reminiscent of a Sadhu. Sadhus, wandering ascetics devoted to a spiritual path, can be frequently spotted in the streets, particularly in areas frequented by tourists. They wear distinctive saffron or yellow robes, often adorned with sacred symbols, and carry an aura of spiritual significance. It's worth noting that authentic Sadhus embody renunciation, deep spiritual practice, and an unwavering commitment to their chosen path. While encounters with genuine Sadhus remain meaningful, it is important to be discerning in distinguishing them from those who may dress similarly for different reasons - Shree Pashupatinath, Kathmandu, Nepal
I hope you'll enjoy the my images as much as I enjoyed taking them.
Not as colourful as some of its relatives, the coal tit has a distinctive grey back, black cap, and white patch at the back of its neck. Its smaller, more slender bill than blue or great tits means it can feed more successfully in conifers. A regular visitor to most feeders, they will take and store food for eating later.
In winter they join with other tits to form flocks which roam through woodlands and gardens in search of food.
Measurements:
Length:11.5cm
Wingspan:17-21cm
Weight:8-10g
Thank you so much for visiting my stream, whether you comments , favorites or just have a look.
I appreciate it very much, wishing the best of luck and good light.
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Lens - hand held or Monopod and definitely SPORT VR on. Aperture is f5.6 and full length. All my images have been converted from RAW to JPEG.
I started using Nikon Cross-Body Strap or Monopod on long walks. Here is my Carbon Monopod details : Gitzo GM2542 Series 2 4S Carbon Monopod - Really Right Stuff MH-01 Monopod Head with Standard Lever - Really Right Stuff LCF-11 Replacement Foot for Nikon AF-S 500mm /5.6E PF Lense -
Thanks for stopping and looking :)
The town church of St. Dionys on Esslingen's market square, with its two distinctive towers, dates back to the 14th century. An excavation museum was built under the church in the 1960s, which shows the wall foundations of the first churches on this site. Settlement and church buildings have been documented since 777.
The high altar from 1604 was designed by Peter Riedlinger, the sacrament house from 1486 and the rood screen that still exists were created by Lorenz Lächler. Also significant are the remains of frescoes from the Leonhard legend (1410) and epitaphs of well-known Esslingen families. The Rococo organ, created by Sigismund Haußdörfer in 1754, towers above the gallery and was converted into a late-romantic concert organ by the Walcker company in 1904. With around 6550 pipes, it is the second largest organ in Württemberg.
Modern art also has space in the historic building: Gottfried von Stockhausen designed the stained glass windows above the south portal in 1963, Ulrich Henn created the main portal in 1960 and the baptismal font in 1965. The lectern was created by the Remstal artist Ulrich Nuss.
A place of lived faith
To this day, the town church is not just an attraction for tourists. Above all, it is a place of lived faith, where many people gather for worship or personal devotion.
The large organ of the Esslingen City Church
"One would like to become young with such a work!" wrote Christian Fink (1822-1911) after the inauguration of the Walcker organ in 1904.
The organ, completed in 1754, has around 6,550 pipes and the famous remote organ, 24 registers and a baroque facade. In 1905, the organ was expanded to almost four times its original size and completely modernized by the EF Walcker organ building company in Ludwigsburg. Finally, in 1951, the electro-pneumatic conversion of the organ was completed, which brought about a significant improvement in sound.
Since then, generations of organists have played the large organ: first Wilhelm Nagel as successor to Christian Fink, and after him Hans-Arnold Metzger. Werner Schrade had been organist of the city church since 1967, followed by Hans Georg Bertram in 1978, and from 1989 together with Uwe Schüssler.
www.stadtkirchengemeinde-esslingen.de/kirchen-und-raeume/...
The Needles is a row of three distinctive stacks of chalk that rise out of the sea off the western extremity of the Isle of Wight, UK, close to Alum Bay. The Needles Lighthouse stands at the outer, western end of the formation. Built in 1859, it has been automated since 1994.
The formation takes its name from a fourth needle-shaped pillar called Lot's Wife that collapsed in a storm in 1764. The remaining rocks are not at all needle-like, but the name has stuck.
The Needles Pleasure Park situated at the top of the cliff is a small amusement park with a selection of shops and rides. The most famous attraction at the pleasure park is the Chairlift, which operates between the park and Alum Bay.
The Needles are inextricably linked with Alum Bay, and are a major tourist draw. Scenic boat trips operating from Alum Bay that offer close-up views of the Needles are very popular. The rocks and lighthouse have become icons of the Isle of Wight, and are featured on many of the souvenirs sold throughout the island.
However, the main tourist attractions of the headland itself are the two gun batteries, the experimental rocket testing station, and the four Coastguard cottages owned by the National Trust and let as holiday homes. The site is on tour bus routes and hiking trails.
Military use
The Needles were a site of a long-standing artillery battery, from the 1860s to 1954, which was eventually decommissioned.
A nearby site on High Down was employed in the testing of rockets for the British ICBM programme. The headland at High Down was used for Black Knight and Black Arrow rocket engine tests from 1956–71. During the peak of activity in the early 1960s some 240 people worked at the complex, while the rockets were built in nearby East Cowes. These rockets were later used to launch the Prospero X-3 satellite. The site is now owned by the National Trust, and is open to the public. Concrete installations remain, but the buildings that were less durable have either been demolished or were torn down by the elements.
In 1982, HRH Prince Charles officially opened the restored Needles Old Battery facility. Underground rocket testing rooms are currently being restored for exhibition. The first phase of restoration was completed in 2004.
For further information please visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Needles and www.theneedles.co.uk/
The Isle of Wight /ˈaɪl əv ˈwaɪt/, is a county and the largest and second most populous island of England. It is located in the English Channel, about 4 mi (6 km) off the coast of Hampshire and is separated from mainland Great Britain by the Solent. The island has several resorts which have been holiday destinations since Victorian times.
The history of the Isle of Wight includes a brief period of time as an independent kingdom in the 15th century. Until 1995, like Jersey and Guernsey, the island had a Governor.
Home to the poets Swinburne and Tennyson and to Queen Victoria, who built her much-loved summer residence and final home Osborne House at East Cowes, the island has a maritime and industrial tradition including boat building, sail making, the manufacture of flying boats, the world's first hovercraft, and the testing and development of Britain's space rockets. The Isle hosts annual festivals including the Bestival and the Isle of Wight Festival, which, in 1970, was the largest rock music event ever held. The island has well-conserved wildlife and some of the richest cliffs and quarries for dinosaur fossils in Europe.
The Isle of Wight was part of the County of Southampton until 1890, when it became an independent administrative county. Until 1974 it continued to share its Lord Lieutenant with Hampshire, when it was reconstituted as a non-metropolitan ceremonial county which gave it its own Lord Lieutenant and was recognised as a postal county.
The quickest public transport link to the mainland is to and from Southsea (Portsmouth) by hovercraft, while five ferry services shuttle across the Solent.
For more information please visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Wight and www.visitisleofwight.co.uk/
Distinctive, large, rather gooselike duck of coastal wetlands, tidal mudflats, and nearby grassy fields. Striking plumage often looks simply black-and-white; at close range, head is deep glossy green, broad breast band dark rusty. Male has raised knob at base of red bill; juvenile duller overall, with whitish face and eyering. Less numerous and more local inland at lakes and along rivers. Often seen walking and grazing, at times in flocks. eBird
the distinctive Watern Tor sits remotely on Watern Down in the North East of Dartmoor.
The distinctive horizontal jointing is due to stress relief. When the massive weight of the overlying rock was removed over time by erosion, the release of pressure created an uplift in the granite, allowing horizontal lines of weakness to form. These have subsequently been exploited by weathering
The church of St.Augustine at Brookland, Romney Marsh, is both distinctive and idiosyncratic featuring - as it does - a separate wooden belfry of a size and type not found anywhere else in Britain, nave arcades leaning at a bizarre angle away from each other and a 12th century font made of solid lead and decorated with the signs of the Zodiac.
www.flickr.com/photos/barryslemmings/sets/72157594387684536/ to see the full set.
Looking first at the bell tower, its core is thought to be late 12th century and was originally open to the elements but was clad with shingles in the 15th century and doubled to its present height of 60 feet. One suggestion is that instablity in the ground may have made building a conventional church tower impractical and certainly the nave arcades demonstrate there is a stability problem on this site. The strange tower was the subject of an 80 page poem in 1786.
An examination in 1900 suggested the tower may have been an open campanile with only the ringers' stage enclosed at first.
Once again the Romney Marsh Historic Churches Trust guide and the church guide differ on dates - the trust suggest the site was first occupied around 1200, the church guide suggests circa 1250 but it concedes that a Norman church may have pre-existed as some worked stone is found in the south aisle.
The nave arcades are unsymmetrical - six bays on the north side and seven bays on the south side - and these lean outwards due to poor quality subsoil. Part of the south arcade is 'out' one foot in a height of 14 feet which one church architect has noted is beyond the theoretical point of collapse. Truly this is Romney Marsh's 'Leaning Tower of Pisa'. Movement has continued this century and half an inch has been registed in 80 years.
A medieval wall painting [not photographed by me] of the Martyrdom of St Thomas Becket was found as recently as 1964.
The 12th century lead font, one of only 30 to survive in Britain, is 12th century and may be Norman or Flemish in origin. It is ornamented in two tiers of arcading with the Signs of the Zodiac and the Labours of the Months.
On display near the door is a surviving 'hud' - a wooden sentry box-like structure which was reserved for the minister to stand inside at the grave and deliver the funeral service in the pouring rain in the days before umberellas were invented. Designed to protect his wig this is thought to be 18th century in origin.
Special mention should also be made of 'The Battle of Brookland' fought on the night of February 11, 1821, between Coast Blockade [Revenue] officers and a party of smugglers. In a running battle from Camber beach where the contraband had been landed, a gang called 'The Blues' lost four dead and 16 wounded while two midshipmen from the Coast Blockade were wounded and their leader Mr McKenzie was killed. The Old Bailey trial of captured smugglers saw one man executed and another acquited.
Brookland village surgeon, Ralph Hougham, was often called out to treat wounded from both sides in these encounters but he would be led blindfolded on horseback to the smugglers to prevent him giving them away or being asked to appear in court and give evidence on oath.
Special mention should also be made of the grave in the nave floor of Capatin George Snoad aged 12 years, of the 19th Lancers, who died in 1829 in unrecorded circumstances. In those days army commissions were still purchased but I was unaware that a 12-year-old could make captain. There is a 'finger grease' mark on his tombstone where clearly everyone else has wiped the '1' to check it really is 12 and not 22!
This photo was taken on the 12/02/2016 in Dawson park in Glasgow. This was a nice accident, was walking through the park when I heard the distinctive drumming sound and after following the sound for about 10mins I found this little guy pecking away.
Plumbeous Ibis
Distinctive gray ibis with a white forehead and bushy crest. Favors marshes, rice fields, and ponds, but also occurs in grassland, pastures, and savanna. Eats insects, snails, and fish. Mostly seen singly or in pairs. Very vocal, especially at dawn, giving a fast series of cackling notes: "kah-kah-kah-kah-kah-kah-kah."
August 19, 2024
Taken on a photo tour guided by Juan Carlos Vindas of Neotropic Photo Tours.
#pantanal #august2024 #Brazil #matogrosso #plumbeousibis #CanonR5 #canonrf600
China, Shanghai, the distinctive brown-tiled Moller Villa, located at the corner of South Shaanxi Road & Yan'an Middle Road in the French Concession area.
A colonial-era mansion built in 1936 by a Swedish shipping tycoon Eric Moller, who came to live in Shanghai in 1919. The building features a unique blend of Gothic & Nordic style, reflecting the Moller family history & based on his daughter’s dream.
This magical colourful villa with Gothic spires, gables & towers, Chinese-style glazed vibrant multi-coloured tiles, dormer windows & Buddha statues everywhere, creates a feeling like in a mysterious village. The interior is really worth visiting, Moller decorated the interior of this dream villa like a luxurious cruise ship. The floors were paved with fine wooden strips to form the pattern of seaweed.
Eric Moller was a passionate fan of horse racing, earning big sums of money in horse racing that he reinvests on farms & real-estate. He also was a prominent member of the Shanghai Horse Racing Club. His treasured horse, the Arab stud stallion Blonic Hill was put to rest in a tomb built in the Moller Villa's gardens, a bronze statue stands today in the garden in honour of his horse.
In 2001 the Hengshan Group began to make meticulous renovation to the villa, preserving its original architectural style & its former glory while also adding a few additions to the site in order to convert it into a luxury hotel, named now the Hengshan-Moller Villa Hotel, a member of Historic Hotels Worldwide since 2019.
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Small and distinctive falconlike kite. Light underneath, blue-gray above with conspicuous black shoulders formed by black wing coverts. Juveniles have a scaly back and brownish-washed breast. Found in open savannah, semi-desert, and agricultural lands with scattered woods; frequently seen on exposed perches. Varied flight style, hovering like a kestrel or gliding like a harrier with deep wingbeats and raised wings. eBird
The distinctive path through a field of golden wheat would appear to lead towards the centre of our galaxy.
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Small thrush-like bird with distinctive black-and-white tail pattern best seen in flight. Throughout most of range, breeding male is overall pale with gray back and buffy throat, black mask, and black wings. Breeding female is duller without black mask. Nonbreeding and immature birds are bright buffy overall with subtle pale eyebrow and lack contrasting black wings. Note long legs and upright posture. Tends to stay on the ground or on low perches. Primarily Eurasian species with a limited breeding range in Alaska; breeds in areas of bare rock and short grass and spends the non-breeding season in open habitats such as grasslands and barren rocky plains. Jumbled-sounding song is quite variable, often including whistles, trills, and mimicry. Calls include a high-pitched “weet”, dry rattle, and dry “chak”, often repeated. eBird
Distinctive 'Biffa' liveried GBRf 66783 'The Flying Dustman' is currently the traction for the (MWF) Hams Hall - Seaforth 'liner'.
At one stage today it was 55L near Bushbury but by the time it hammered through Acton Bridge it had pulled back twenty minutes. A comparatively new flow it is now loading well.
* Pole @ 7m
The distinctive chalky-looking pale leaf underside
The Himalayan Giant is an exception to the rule that Brambles are difficult to identify. Its habit is the most distinctive thing about it. New growth arches high, without the support of shrubs or trees. It creates dense shade and can take over substantial areas. The chalky-looking pale underside to the leaves confirms the identification; there are a few other Brambles with pale undersides to their leaves, but none that approach its vigour.
It is by far the commonest Bramble local to me and in many urban and suburban areas, but records do not reflect how widespread it is because it has usually been recorded as a due to the expertise needed to identify most species.
It self seeds readily and has escaped from cultivation. It crops heavily and the fruit are typically quite large.
A distinctive plump, short-tailed, long-legged terrestrial forest bird with a conspicuous red belly and a broad band of electric blue above that. Head brown and body green. Forages on the ground in humid lowland and hill forest and also in neighboring secondary growth. Calls both from the forest floor and from low perches in the understory. Gives a soft two-note whistle with a quivering, longer first note: “whoooyoop-woo.”