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A view of Janjira fort from the Murud - Janjira road taken with my Fuji X100, not the first choice for landscape photography but in fact it pretty much always surprises me with its abilities. I think the colours and tonality here are typical Fuji and I really like it.

Situated on a rock of oval shape near the port town of Murud, 165kms south of Mumbai, Janjira is one of the strongest marine forts of India (the word ‘Janjira’ is a corruption of the Arabic word Jazira for island). The forts is approached by sailboats from Rajapuri jetty.

Situated on a rock of oval shape near the port town of Murud, 165kms south of Mumbai, Janjira is one of the strongest marine forts of India (the word ‘Janjira’ is a corruption of the Arabic word Jazira for island). The forts is approached by sailboats from Rajapuri jetty.

Situated on a rock of oval shape near the port town of Murud, 165kms south of Mumbai, Janjira is one of the strongest marine forts of India (the word ‘Janjira’ is a corruption of the Arabic word Jazira for island). The forts is approached by sailboats from Rajapuri jetty.

here in the land of the siddis

of a mystical time

run the bullocks

a moment sublime

locked in battle

with a poets rhyme

the kolis on gudi padwa day

at murud janjira

in drunken mime

the lashing waves

the euphoria

ice golas kulfi sticks

washed in grime

for the audience

the photographers

the best pastime

for benhur

of Murud Janjira

his best playtime

dedicated to Fred Mike Rudy

I began shooting the Bullock cart races about 8 to 10 years back..

I was introduced to this action sport photography and the art of panning by my photo guru Mr Shreekanth Malushte at Alibagh ..and it was Jayant Dhulap of Alibagh who further eencouraged me to shoot the same .. every year till the sport was banned for animal cruelty.

But this needs explanation.. this race is not for money, the winning gives added respect to the bullock owners.. and strange sometimes the prize is a metal container for drinking water.

The bulls are treated like their own children by the owners fed well , even bought to the racing venue in comfort by trucks .. the owners of the bulls here in Raigad District of Maharashtra treat their bulls like gods with wings.

However as this race takes place during Holi at Alibagh and Gudi Padwa at Murud Janjira it was rogue drunk elements in the crowd who would beat the bullocks with a nail attached stick.. and though every attempt was made by the organizers to stamp out this evil..

So I can tell you that as a photographer shooting this event both at Alibagh and Murud Beach , it is a solemn moment ..I shot a picture once of a bullock cart driver who met with an accident and the bull got injured , he cried he wept on the body of the bull.. who was grievously hurt on one of its leg and was limping..

I have shot an old driver who lost control and was entrapped in the wheel of the bullock cart of the racing bull, and these are moments dangerous moments.

This is the only race with no inkling of gambling at all.

This bullock cart race is the pride of the Maharashtrian ethos.. and its culture that I have documented , I too shoot dangerously standing in the path of the racing bulls ..I have been lucky..

I would not miss this race I was in Gujrat I travelled 16 hours non stop to catch this event at Murud Janjira a very long tiring trip.. I wish the Government of Maharashtra ecourage this sport and make it tourist friendly.. this is a message of peace hope and harmony.

The bulls are expensive , and no owner would harm his bull ..not just an investment but a pride of place in his family.

This is dedicated to my Indiblogger friend Desi Traveler... Jai Ho,

Situated on a rock of oval shape near the port town of Murud, 165kms south of Mumbai, Janjira is one of the strongest marine forts of India (the word ‘Janjira’ is a corruption of the Arabic word Jazira for island). The forts is approached by sailboats from Rajapuri jetty.

To reach on Janjira Fort (India) you have to take a boat from the Coast. Its on Sharing basis. This photograph was captured when boatman was taking his boat to parking area.

Situated on a rock of oval shape near the port town of Murud, 165kms south of Mumbai, Janjira is one of the strongest marine forts of India (the word ‘Janjira’ is a corruption of the Arabic word Jazira for island). The forts is approached by sailboats from Rajapuri jetty.

Situated on a rock of oval shape near the port town of Murud, 165kms south of Mumbai, Janjira is one of the strongest marine forts of India (the word ‘Janjira’ is a corruption of the Arabic word Jazira for island). The forts is approached by sailboats from Rajapuri jetty.

Situated on a rock of oval shape near the port town of Murud, 165kms south of Mumbai, Janjira is one of the strongest marine forts of India (the word ‘Janjira’ is a corruption of the Arabic word Jazira for island). The forts is approached by sailboats from Rajapuri jetty.

Situated on a rock of oval shape near the port town of Murud, 165kms south of Mumbai, Janjira is one of the strongest marine forts of India (the word ‘Janjira’ is a corruption of the Arabic word Jazira for island). The forts is approached by sailboats from Rajapuri jetty.

A classic ( cliched?) 'window' view from Janjira fort taken with my DP2M, shadows lifted in LR4.

Date: May 01, 2006

Venue: Janjira, Maharashtra, India

Camera: Canon Powershot S2 IS

Post Processing Software: GIMP

experimentswithphotos.wordpress.com/2015/02/16/16/

I head to Gateway of India to catch a boat for Alibagh on Gudi Padwa Day to shoot the bullock cart race at Murud Janjira.

As a photographer I shoot people their life their surroundings their pain..

I hate landscape... A subject not part of my heart or brain..

Humility is the essence of my photography.. That keeps me level headed sane..

I hate summers

I hate winters

I love the Mumbai Rains

I was born in Lucknow UP

But I broke those rusty

Cosmic chains.

A Mumbaikar

Till my Death

I will remain.

Crazy

Kinky

Poetically

Insane

#murudjanjira

Date: Apr 29, 2006

Venue: Mumbai | Janjira, Maharashtra, India

Camera: Canon Powershot S2 IS

Post Processing Software: GIMP

experimentswithphotos.wordpress.com/2015/02/16/14/

Situated on a rock of oval shape near the port town of Murud, 165kms south of Mumbai, Janjira is one of the strongest marine forts of India (the word ‘Janjira’ is a corruption of the Arabic word Jazira for island). The forts is approached by sailboats from Rajapuri jetty.

273,731 items / 2,156,218 views

Situated on a rock of oval shape near the port town of Murud, 165kms south of Mumbai, Janjira is one of the strongest marine forts of India (the word ‘Janjira’ is a corruption of the Arabic word Jazira for island). The forts is approached by sailboats from Rajapuri jetty.

Date: Apr 30, 2006

Venue: Deveghar, Maharashtra, India

Camera: Canon Powershot S2 IS

Post Processing Software: GIMP

experimentswithphotos.wordpress.com/2015/02/16/15/

Situated on a rock of oval shape near the port town of Murud, 165kms south of Mumbai, Janjira is one of the strongest marine forts of India (the word ‘Janjira’ is a corruption of the Arabic word Jazira for island). The forts is approached by sailboats from Rajapuri jetty.

Would you dare to post a message on the Addams Family Facebook Wall?

Situated on a rock of oval shape near the port town of Murud, 165kms south of Mumbai, Janjira is one of the strongest marine forts of India (the word ‘Janjira’ is a corruption of the Arabic word Jazira for island). The forts is approached by sailboats from Rajapuri jetty.

Situated on a rock of oval shape near the port town of Murud, 165kms south of Mumbai, Janjira is one of the strongest marine forts of India (the word ‘Janjira’ is a corruption of the Arabic word Jazira for island). The forts is approached by sailboats from Rajapuri jetty.

Situated on a rock of oval shape near the port town of Murud, 165kms south of Mumbai, Janjira is one of the strongest marine forts of India (the word ‘Janjira’ is a corruption of the Arabic word Jazira for island). The forts is approached by sailboats from Rajapuri jetty.

For last two years I have not been able to make it on Gudi Padwa for the Murud Janjira bullock cart race , some thing or other prevents me from making the trip..

I love Murud Janjira the sylvan surroundings..'My friend Kiran Batham a journalist helps me around..

But we have not connected ..

Alibagh on Holi Day I dont miss and my desire to bond with another famous jouno of the Express group Jayant Dhulap and his multi talented daughter Abha..

These are pictures shot on slide , scanned and presented as monochrome..

These are monochromatic memories that cling to my restless soul...

I have desaturated the color - a desaturation that uncolors my restless spirit too.

273,731 items / 2,156,218 views

www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-0aE-pjEJA

Situated on a rock of oval shape near the port town of Murud, 165kms south of Mumbai, Janjira is one of the strongest marine forts of India (the word ‘Janjira’ is a corruption of the Arabic word Jazira for island). The forts is approached by sailboats from Rajapuri jetty.

It used to be a 3 storey building..all the administrative work would be done here......it we could go back some 400 years then only one could see the magnificance of this place.

Famous for being the only fort along India's Western coast that remained undefeated despite Dutch, Maratha and English East India Company attacks, Murud-Janjira, which was occupied by the Siddis, is the local name for a fort situated on an island just off the coastal village of Murud, in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, India