View allAll Photos Tagged incense_sticks
I've been wanting to try photographing smoke for a while. I finally bought some incense sticks and proceeded to smoke-up and stink-up my home office. Graham Jeffery has an excellent blog entry on how to photograph smoke. If you're interested, I'd head over there to see his photos and read about his technique. I'll post some comments on my blog when I get a chance. I colorized some of these images in Photoshop. Those that are more subtlety colored (about half of them) show the natural colors of the smoke itself (with some saturation added in a few cases).
All of my smoke images were created with two light sources. The first was natural light coming through an window on the left. I doubt the natural light contributed much (if anything), because my shutter speed was 1/250 and the f-stop was f/10. To the right of the smoke I placed a Canon Speedlite set to full power. Those setting pretty much nuked any ambient light. To prevent any light from spilling onto the background, and flaring into the lens, I attached a couple of 4" X 8" cardboard "gobos" to the sides of my flash (using Velcro). I wish now that I had taken a setup shot. Oh well, next time.
created with incense sticks, a long exposure while firing a flash in hand - then mirroring the image
Apparently this temple was first established in 1636. Its name Temple of Celebratory Clouds was probably so named because it sits high on a hill and the ancient mythology that the God of Heaven (or Sky) has control over all weather conditions and the movement of the sun, cloud, rain and wind.
The temple is a massive structure built on the hillside of Dinghu Mountain, containing over 100 inter-connected rooms or halls over five terraces.
xxxx
My mother had a very difficult childhood. China in the 1940s and 1950s was in social, political and economic turmoil. When my mother was only 11, her parents had no choice but to send her off alone to Hong Kong to live with her aunt. My mother hence started working at age 11 even though she really wanted to go to school instead. Imagine a girl without the care and love of her parents, and she was able to go back to China to visit her parents once a year, and only for a few days each time.
In any case, when she was still small, she remembered her uncle telling her about Dinghu Mountain, which is a scenic mountain park with an old temple. Ever since her teens, she had wanted to visit this Dinghu Mountain. But life was tough in those days. She dreamt of going, but never could. Fast forward 60 years, we're now determined to taker her there.
The original plan was, I was to accompany her to see it too. But then my brother also wanted to go and he could only go BEFORE my arrival in China (my mother left Toronto for China a week before me). So? They all went to Dinghu Mountain before I could get to China.
But the main thing is my mother finally got to see it. Perhaps one day I will too!
Incense sticks, a closed room and a flash snoot was what it took. A rebreather is what i wanted by the end of it, it didn't take long to fill with smoke.
smoke picture, taken with incense sticks, on my balcony. use flash and superdark background, open air and vast space works the best for it!
Die Gestaltung des Balinesischen Gartens folgt den auf Bali vorhandenen Vorbildern und soll den Besuchern Geist und symbolischen Inhalt balinesischer Kultur vermitteln. Im Gegensatz zur überwiegend muslimisch geprägten Bevölkerung Indonesiens haben die Balinesen ihre ganz eigene Kultur. Der auf Bali vorherrschende Hinduismus mischt sich mit alten Bräuchen und Sitten, dem Respekt vor der Natur und dem Streben der Balinesen nach Harmonie in allen Lebensbereichen zu einer einzigartigen Glaubens- und Kulturform. Ein Mensch sollte stets im Einklang mit sich selbst, mit seiner Umgebung - das heißt mit der Natur und den anderen Menschen - und mit dem gesamten Universum leben. Dieses dreigeteilte Harmonieprinzip findet sich im Balinesischen Garten immer wieder und ist auch Grundlage für den Namen des Gartens: "Garten der drei Harmonien - TRI HITA KARANA". Der Balinesische Garten ist ein Beispiel für die Anordnung einer Wohnanlage im südlichen Bali. (Quelle: Senatsverwaltung für Umwelt, Verkehr und Klimaschutz, gekürzt)
The Balinese Garden, which opened in 2003 as the Garden of the Three Harmonies or Tri Hita Karana, grew out of town twinning links forged between Berlin and Jakarta. Most of the structural elements in the garden, designed by Indonesian architects I Putu Edy Semara, were pre-fabricated in Bali and assembled in Berlin by Balinese craftsmen.
For the IGA Berlin 2017, this exotic garden was both revamped and rehoused in the new, 14m-high, energy-efficient Tropical Hall which has provided an additional 2000 square metres of tropical planting around the Balinese Garden.
The Balinese Garden reflects man’s struggle for harmony: harmony among people, with the environment and with the universe. A garden planted according to design criteria alone is unknown in traditional Bali, where tropical forest flora merges with the species cultivated by villagers: plants that are used for eating, as remedies or as religious offerings.
In the heart of the garden stands a compound typical of those to be found in southern Bali, surrounded by a wall of whitewashed brick. Visitors enter this private area through a gate called the angkul angkul. It is here that they see the first evidence of the ubiquitous trinity of the Balinese Garden of the Three Harmonies, for the gate comprises a base with steps (representing the foot), a teak door (the body) and a mighty capped roof (the head).
The family temple, or sanggah, inside the compound is enclosed within another wall. In Bali, offerings of flowers, fruit and incense sticks are placed on these high-plinthed shrines every day. The largest building in the compound is the all-purpose bale dangin, a roofed pavilion that serves a number of different functions. It is where offerings are prepared, where the family sleeps, weaves, sews and plays. The paved area in front of the bale dangin marks the centre of the compound and is a place of encounter and exchange.
Just behind the compound starts the ancient tropical forest which contains many species commonly found in Europe as houseplants or in botanical gardens. (Souce: Grün Berlin Group, abbreviated)
February 28: When all else fails, there's always a macro shot. This is a glass full of incense sticks. Which I am going to start using as soon as I get my act together for Tricycle's "Big Sit." Ninety days of meditation, which started on Monday--though the guidelines insist that one can start whenever one is ready. I guess I haven't been ready yet. Maybe today, huh? To go with this picture?
When logic and proportion
Have fallen sloppy dead
And the White Knight is talking backwards
And the Red Queen's "off with her head!"
Remember what the dormouse said;
"Keep your head" (*)
My first hippy experiments with smoke photography :)
I had only one small bit of incense stick and it's quite hard to adjust the lighting in order to capture the smoke trails.
I've managed to capture one good smoke trail, but focus and overall composition was awful.
This is why I've used the last smelly inch of incense with the flash slightly pointed towards the lens to get some nice bokeh.
I'll go on experimenting as soon as I find better smelling incense sticks and a better way to direct the light away from both lens and background :D
(*) "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane
Happy Deepavali to all our Hindu friends!
Every year during Deepavali, Little India transforms into an exotic treat for the senses, with thousands of coloured lights and dozens of special stalls set up, selling anything from beautiful brightly-coloured silk saris, shining jewellery, aromatic spices, scented jasmine garlands, incense sticks, and statues of Indian deities and much more.
Photo © Tristan Savatier - All Rights Reserved - License this photo on www.loupiote.com/96987240
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Women selling Incense sticks (Lang Sơn, Vietnam)
If you like this photo, follow me on instagram (tristan_sf) and don't hesitate to leave a comment or email me.
Die Gestaltung des Balinesischen Gartens folgt den auf Bali vorhandenen Vorbildern und soll den Besuchern Geist und symbolischen Inhalt balinesischer Kultur vermitteln. Im Gegensatz zur überwiegend muslimisch geprägten Bevölkerung Indonesiens haben die Balinesen ihre ganz eigene Kultur. Der auf Bali vorherrschende Hinduismus mischt sich mit alten Bräuchen und Sitten, dem Respekt vor der Natur und dem Streben der Balinesen nach Harmonie in allen Lebensbereichen zu einer einzigartigen Glaubens- und Kulturform. Ein Mensch sollte stets im Einklang mit sich selbst, mit seiner Umgebung - das heißt mit der Natur und den anderen Menschen - und mit dem gesamten Universum leben. Dieses dreigeteilte Harmonieprinzip findet sich im Balinesischen Garten immer wieder und ist auch Grundlage für den Namen des Gartens: "Garten der drei Harmonien - TRI HITA KARANA". Der Balinesische Garten ist ein Beispiel für die Anordnung einer Wohnanlage im südlichen Bali. (Quelle: Senatsverwaltung für Umwelt, Verkehr und Klimaschutz, gekürzt)
The Balinese Garden, which opened in 2003 as the Garden of the Three Harmonies or Tri Hita Karana, grew out of town twinning links forged between Berlin and Jakarta. Most of the structural elements in the garden, designed by Indonesian architects I Putu Edy Semara, were pre-fabricated in Bali and assembled in Berlin by Balinese craftsmen.
For the IGA Berlin 2017, this exotic garden was both revamped and rehoused in the new, 14m-high, energy-efficient Tropical Hall which has provided an additional 2000 square metres of tropical planting around the Balinese Garden.
The Balinese Garden reflects man’s struggle for harmony: harmony among people, with the environment and with the universe. A garden planted according to design criteria alone is unknown in traditional Bali, where tropical forest flora merges with the species cultivated by villagers: plants that are used for eating, as remedies or as religious offerings.
In the heart of the garden stands a compound typical of those to be found in southern Bali, surrounded by a wall of whitewashed brick. Visitors enter this private area through a gate called the angkul angkul. It is here that they see the first evidence of the ubiquitous trinity of the Balinese Garden of the Three Harmonies, for the gate comprises a base with steps (representing the foot), a teak door (the body) and a mighty capped roof (the head).
The family temple, or sanggah, inside the compound is enclosed within another wall. In Bali, offerings of flowers, fruit and incense sticks are placed on these high-plinthed shrines every day. The largest building in the compound is the all-purpose bale dangin, a roofed pavilion that serves a number of different functions. It is where offerings are prepared, where the family sleeps, weaves, sews and plays. The paved area in front of the bale dangin marks the centre of the compound and is a place of encounter and exchange.
Just behind the compound starts the ancient tropical forest which contains many species commonly found in Europe as houseplants or in botanical gardens. (Souce: Grün Berlin Group, abbreviated)
Day 254 Incense sticks #365pic #365days #365photo #365project #365photochallenge #365photoproject #365photos #365photoaday #365challenge #365 #photo #photoaday #photoofday #photography #photoaday365 #photoadaychallenge #photooftheday #photochallenge #project365
The Varanasi Ganga Aarti is one of the most beautiful religious ceremonies in the world. It takes place every sunset at holy Dashaswamedh Ghat, near Kashi Vishwanath Temple. This divine ritual is a highly choreographed ceremony. The extravaganza is amazing and you will certainly will be wanting more of it. The aarti is performed on a stage on the river banks. A group of young pandits, all draped in saffron colored robes raise huge brass lamps in honor of the River Goddess.
The ceremony commences with the blowing of a conch shell, which is believed to eliminate all negative energy and heighten your senses. The waving of incense sticks in elaborate patterns and circling of large flaming lamps follows. The movement of the lamps are synchronized to the rhythmic chants of hymns and music of cymbals. The heady scent of sandalwood thickly permeates the air. The aarti is not just a ritual it is a display of complete devotion to the River Ganga.
Smoke from Kayuragi Japanese Incense sticks. They do not produce a lot of smoke and it took a while to capture the picture, but the wisps are nice and thin.
Lighting: SB-700 from side, manual mode @ 1/32.
大坑舞火龍為香港中秋節期間一項大型傳統活動，一連三天舉行，以保大坑居民合境平安。火龍龍身全長220呎(67米)，分成32節，先以粗麻繩紮成龍骨，再用稻草紮成(現改用珍珠草)龍身。龍頭由藤條屈曲為骨架；龍牙以鋸齒的鐵片造成；雙眼是手電筒；舌頭是漆紅的木片，而帶引舞龍的珠球是個插滿線香的沙田柚，一共兩個，而全條龍身均插上逾萬支火紅的長壽香，在夜間生龍舞動。
大坑舞火龍於2011年列入第三批國家級非遺代表性項目名錄。
Mid-autumn Festival 中秋節：Ｖillagers have performed the three-day fire dragon dance every year to pray for peace in Tai Hang. Fire Dragon is altogether 220 feet long with its body divided into 32 segments, all of which are stuffed with straw and stuck full of incense sticks, estimate made with several tens of thousands glowing incense sticks winds through the streets down to Tin Hau.
Tai Hang fire dragon dance was inscribed onto the third national list of ICH in 2011.
香港大坑浣紗街
Wun Sha Street, Tai Hang, Hong Kong.
Die Gestaltung des Balinesischen Gartens folgt den auf Bali vorhandenen Vorbildern und soll den Besuchern Geist und symbolischen Inhalt balinesischer Kultur vermitteln. Im Gegensatz zur überwiegend muslimisch geprägten Bevölkerung Indonesiens haben die Balinesen ihre ganz eigene Kultur. Der auf Bali vorherrschende Hinduismus mischt sich mit alten Bräuchen und Sitten, dem Respekt vor der Natur und dem Streben der Balinesen nach Harmonie in allen Lebensbereichen zu einer einzigartigen Glaubens- und Kulturform. Ein Mensch sollte stets im Einklang mit sich selbst, mit seiner Umgebung - das heißt mit der Natur und den anderen Menschen - und mit dem gesamten Universum leben. Dieses dreigeteilte Harmonieprinzip findet sich im Balinesischen Garten immer wieder und ist auch Grundlage für den Namen des Gartens: "Garten der drei Harmonien - TRI HITA KARANA". Der Balinesische Garten ist ein Beispiel für die Anordnung einer Wohnanlage im südlichen Bali. (Quelle: Senatsverwaltung für Umwelt, Verkehr und Klimaschutz, gekürzt)
The Balinese Garden, which opened in 2003 as the Garden of the Three Harmonies or Tri Hita Karana, grew out of town twinning links forged between Berlin and Jakarta. Most of the structural elements in the garden, designed by Indonesian architects I Putu Edy Semara, were pre-fabricated in Bali and assembled in Berlin by Balinese craftsmen.
For the IGA Berlin 2017, this exotic garden was both revamped and rehoused in the new, 14m-high, energy-efficient Tropical Hall which has provided an additional 2000 square metres of tropical planting around the Balinese Garden.
The Balinese Garden reflects man’s struggle for harmony: harmony among people, with the environment and with the universe. A garden planted according to design criteria alone is unknown in traditional Bali, where tropical forest flora merges with the species cultivated by villagers: plants that are used for eating, as remedies or as religious offerings.
In the heart of the garden stands a compound typical of those to be found in southern Bali, surrounded by a wall of whitewashed brick. Visitors enter this private area through a gate called the angkul angkul. It is here that they see the first evidence of the ubiquitous trinity of the Balinese Garden of the Three Harmonies, for the gate comprises a base with steps (representing the foot), a teak door (the body) and a mighty capped roof (the head).
The family temple, or sanggah, inside the compound is enclosed within another wall. In Bali, offerings of flowers, fruit and incense sticks are placed on these high-plinthed shrines every day. The largest building in the compound is the all-purpose bale dangin, a roofed pavilion that serves a number of different functions. It is where offerings are prepared, where the family sleeps, weaves, sews and plays. The paved area in front of the bale dangin marks the centre of the compound and is a place of encounter and exchange.
Just behind the compound starts the ancient tropical forest which contains many species commonly found in Europe as houseplants or in botanical gardens. (Souce: Grün Berlin Group, abbreviated)
These incense sticks had Chinese good luck wishes written on them.
This photograph appears in a NowPublic news story:Incense Gives You Cancer.
Loi Krathong takes place on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. In the western calendar this usually falls in November.
Loi literally means 'to float,' while krathong refers to the lotus-shaped receptacle which can float on the water. Originally, the krathong was made of banana leaves or the layers of the trunk of a banana tree or a spider lily plant. A krathong contains food, betel nuts, flowers, joss sticks, candle and coins. Modern krathongs are more often made of bread or styrofoam. A bread krathong will disintegrate in a few a days and be eaten by fish and other animals. The traditional banana stalk krathongs are also biodegradable, but styrofoam krathongs are frowned on, since they are polluting and may take years to disappear. Regardless of the composition, a krathong will be decorated with elaborately-folded banana leaves, flowers, candles and incense sticks. A low value coin is sometimes included as an offering to the river spirits. During the night of the full moon, Thais will float their krathong on a river, canal or a pond lake. The festival is believed to originate in an ancient practice of paying respect to the spirit of the waters. Today it is simply a time to have fun.
Source: Wikipedia
Myanmar Images : A young lady works making incense sticks at a factory in Pakokku, Myanmar. During the week, she would live at the factory, returning to her village in the North only on weekends to support her mother with her weekly pay of $17.00
I've been wanting to try photographing smoke for a while. I finally bought some incense sticks and proceeded to smoke-up and stink-up my home office. Graham Jeffery has an excellent blog entry on how to photograph smoke. If you're interested, I'd head over there to see his photos and read about his technique. I'll post some comments on my blog when I get a chance. I colorized some of these images in Photoshop. Those that are more subtlety colored (about half of them) show the natural colors of the smoke itself (with some saturation added in a few cases).
All of my smoke images were created with two light sources. The first was natural light coming through an window on the left. I doubt the natural light contributed much (if anything), because my shutter speed was 1/250 and the f-stop was f/10. To the right of the smoke I placed a Canon Speedlite set to full power. Those setting pretty much nuked any ambient light. To prevent any light from spilling onto the background, and flaring into the lens, I attached a couple of 4" X 8" cardboard "gobos" to the sides of my flash (using Velcro). I wish now that I had taken a setup shot. Oh well, next time.
Little bored this afternoon. Needed to play with my camera.
Strobist: Small softbox camera left triggered by cybersyncs. Three incense sticks, black back ground, a little post, and voila - Art (?).
My wife said it was a shame (very tongue in cheek) that tobacco companies are in such disfavor. A series of these would look great in their lobby....
This was taken on a Chinese ship. I was struck by the fact that it seemed to be an active shrine in the sense that there were a lot of incense sticks in the offering bowl. A lot of ships have a small shrine or something for luck. Japanese ships have a similar shrine to this with jars for sake and bowl for rice offerings. Greek ships usually have an icon behind the helmsman. Turkish ships have a portrait of Ataturk somewhere on the rear bulkhead.
This ship could use some good luck. I guess appeasing the spirits in this case was cheaper than building her with a decently sized rudder.
On a very wet day outside I decided that I would need to resort to taking photos of my wife's ornaments, yes I was that bored! Anyway, this is one of her favourite pieces with some red filter on the flash. The smoke is from some incense sticks.
A Ladakhi woman turns some of the many prayer wheels at the Hemis Monastery Summer Festival 2011, Ladakh.
(The bottle she is holding is called Mazza - mango juice)
The Hemis festival is dedicated to Lord Padmasambhava (Guru Rimpoche) venerated as the Dance Performance at Hemis Monastery representative reincarnate of Buddha. He is believed to have been born on the 10th day of the fifth month of the Monkey year as predicted by the Buddha Shakyamuni. It is also believed that his life mission was, and remains, to improve the spiritual condition of all living beings. And so on this day, which comes once in a cycle of 12 years, Hemis observes a major extravaganza in his memory. The observance of these sacred rituals is believed to give spiritual strength and good health. The Hemis festival takes place in the rectangular courtyard in front of the main door of the monastery. The space is wide and open save two raised square platforms, three feet high with a sacred pole in the center. A raised dias with a richly cushioned seat with a finely painted small Tibetan table is placed with the ceremonial items - cups full of holy water, uncooked rice, tormas made of dough and butter and incense sticks. A number of musicians play the traditional music with four pairs of cymbals, large-pan drums, small trumpets and large size wind instruments. Next to them, a small space is assigned for the lamas to sit. (Wikipedia)
Not only is it a pincushion, it's a box, and it's filled with great things!
Jean, from California, sent 2 packs of clover pins, a pack of glass head pins in lovely bright colours and some incense sticks which (according to the packet) will help me more concentrated. Perfect for me - let's see if they work!
I have it sat on my desk, in pride of place. Thank you, Jean. I adore it!
Mermaid Incense Back Burner B1122
€7.87 Ali (€20.71@62% off)
Ordered: 14-02-2018
Arriver: 26-03-2018
40 days from order date to arrival.
Not sent in foam packing as shown in advert. The base was put on top and it had the poly bag packing next to it but not around it.
Comes with 10 incense sticks of varying colours and I assume stink.
I got this as a USB Stick holder but it seems to be smaller than I had thought it would be.
Might paint it and have it anyway to annoy the sad people here.
Ladakhi woman wearing traditional costume at the Hemis Monastery Summer Festival 2011.
The Hemis festival is dedicated to Lord Padmasambhava (Guru Rimpoche) venerated as the Dance Performance at Hemis Monastery representative reincarnate of Buddha. He is believed to have been born on the 10th day of the fifth month of the Monkey year as predicted by the Buddha Shakyamuni. It is also believed that his life mission was, and remains, to improve the spiritual condition of all living beings. And so on this day, which comes once in a cycle of 12 years, Hemis observes a major extravaganza in his memory. The observance of these sacred rituals is believed to give spiritual strength and good health. The Hemis festival takes place in the rectangular courtyard in front of the main door of the monastery. The space is wide and open save two raised square platforms, three feet high with a sacred pole in the center. A raised dias with a richly cushioned seat with a finely painted small Tibetan table is placed with the ceremonial items - cups full of holy water, uncooked rice, tormas made of dough and butter and incense sticks. A number of musicians play the traditional music with four pairs of cymbals, large-pan drums, small trumpets and large size wind instruments. Next to them, a small space is assigned for the lamas to sit. (Wikipedia)
Der Balinesische Garten spiegelt das Streben der Menschen nach Einklang mit sich selbst, ihrem Umfeld und dem gesamten Universum. Auf Bali heißt es, dass ein harmonisches Miteinander der Dämonen der Erde, der Götter des Himmels und der Menschen auf der Erde unabdingbar ist und Leben erst ermöglicht. Der Balinesische Garten ist so gestaltet, dass alle Elemente miteinander in Einklang kommen können. Darum heißt er „Garten der drei Harmonien“ – auf balinesisch Tri Hita Karana.Er entstand 2003 im Rahmen der Städtepartnerschaft Berlin-Jakarta und umfasst insgesamt 2.000 qm. Im Zentrum der Halle steht ein südbalinesischer Wohnhof, der durch eine Lehmziegelmauer von seiner Umgebung abgegrenzt ist. Die baulichen Elemente der Wohnstätte wurden von dem indonesischen Architekten I Putu Edy Semara entworfen und zu großen Teilen auf Bali vorgefertigt. Die „Pura“ gennannte Tempelanlage dient der in Berlin lebenden Bali-Gemeinde als Ort, an dem sie ihre Kultur pflegen und ihre Religion ausüben kann. 2012 wurden zwei zusätzliche Schreine gebaut, die in einer feierlichen Zeremonie von aus Bali eingeflogenen Priestern geweiht wurden. Auf ihnen wirst du stets Opfergaben wie Blumen, Früchte oder Räucherstäbchen finden, die dazu dienen, die Götter gnädig zu stimmen. Im Rahmen der IGA Berlin 2017 hat die exotische Anlage nicht nur eine neue Hülle, sondern auch eine Neuinszenierung erhalten: die 1.200 qm große Tropenhalle! Das energieeffiziente Warmhaus ermöglichte die Kultivierung anspruchsvoller tropischer Pflanzen. Nun endlich konnte sich ein richtiger balinesischer Dschungel entfalten!
In den 14 m hohen Hallen sind die Wohnanlage und die Gärten untergebracht. Das angeschlossene Kalthaus wird in den Sommermonaten als Ausstellungsraum und in den Wintermonaten als Orangerie genutzt.
www.gaertenderwelt.de/welt-entdecken/themengaerten/baline...
The Balinese Garden reflects people's aspiration to be in harmony with themselves, their environment and the entire universe. In Bali it is said that a harmonious coexistence of the demons of the earth, the gods of the sky and the people of the earth is essential and makes life possible. The Balinese Garden is designed so that all elements can be in harmony. That is why it is called "Garden of the Three Harmonies" - in Balinese Tri Hita Karana. The garden was created in 2003 as part of the Berlin-Jakarta city partnership and covers a total of 2,000 square metres. In the centre of the hall stands a South Balinese residential courtyard, which is separated from its surroundings by a mudbrick wall. The building elements of the residence were designed by the Indonesian architect I Putu Edy Semara and prefabricated to a large extent on Bali. The temple complex called "Pura" serves the Bali community living in Berlin as a place where they can practice their culture as well as their religion. In 2012, two additional shrines were built and consecrated in a solemn ceremony by priests flown in from Bali. On them you will always find offerings such as flowers, fruits or incense sticks, which serve to placate the gods. As part of the IGA Berlin 2017, the exotic complex not only received a new shell, but also a new setting: the 1,200 m² tropical hall! The energy-efficient hot-house allows cultivation of sophisticated tropical plants. Now, finally, a real Balinese jungle could emerge! he residence and the gardens are housed in the 14 m high halls. The adjoining cold-house is used as an exhibition room during the summer months and as an orangery during the winter months.
www.gaertenderwelt.de/en/explore-the-world/themed-gardens...
Incense sticks in Lingyin Temple, Hanghzou, China. The temple is on the shore of West Lake, a beautiful lake surrounded by low hills, forests and temples.
This photo appears in my latest ebook.
144,827 items / 1,114,689 views
With this I complete I lot of the Gauri Visrajan I shoot barefeet at Juhu Chowpatty as Juhu Beach is called on Immersion or Visarjan day.
I have another lot of Visarjan picture I shall keep on hold to post the Ganesha Pandal that I had kept in abeyance and my favorite house ganpati has already been immersed on the 5 th day .
It is Farzans Ganapati at Bandra Bazar Road , Farzan collects and saves his pocket money buys the Ganesha idol decorates it himself and he has been doing this for last 3 years,
Farzans mother is a Catholic his father is a Parsi.
His grandmother is yesteryear famous junior artiste Katy Irani.
Till the time Lord Ganesha comes to their house his father stops drinking his mother stops cooking non veg.
The Arti at his house is performed by the Hindu boys of the area..and next year if you go Pandal hopping do feel the humility of Farzans ganpati and I am crying as I write this because my grand daughter Marziya Shakir who is away in Lucknow with her maternal grand parents ,was introduced to Lord Ganesha at this house , and earlier pictures of Marziya as a toddler in this house are part of my Ganesha series at Flickr.
Farzans Ganpati is a small set at Flickr.
This year I missed shooting Farzan taking his Ganpati for immersion at Mahim causeway,
Farzan is a true Ganesha devotee and sometimes I wonder does one really need to be a Hindu to fall in love with the elephant God Lord Ganesha.
Karma Dharma Bhakti come from within and requires no tagging as a religiosity ..so I keep these Virsajan pictures on the side to take you to Farzans world and the Ganpati pandals I shot in and around Bandra last week.
Because of the injuries to my legs I shoot barefeet the ethos of Hope and Humanity.
Because of all this and my diabetic condition I was unable to visit the others Ganesha pandals in Mumbai and share the beauty of the Ganesha feat with all of you..
My business my personal life too is in the dumps but the blog gives me hope and helps me empty out my angst the poetry of my soul my passion my pathos through my camera lens as a street photographer.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Aarti (Hindi आरती), also spelled arathi, aarthi (from the Sanskrit term Aradhana) is a Hindu ritual, in which light from wicks soaked in ghee (purified butter) or camphor is offered to one or more deities. Aartis also refer to the songs sung in praise of the deity, when offering of lamps is being offered.
Aarti is said to have descended from the Vedic concept of fire rituals, or homa. The word may also refer to the traditional Hindu devotional song that is sung during the ritual. Aarti is performed and sung to develop the highest love for God. "Aa" means "towards or to", and "rati" means "right or virtue" in Sanskrit. It is sometimes thought the word is from a type of cloth or as followers wore over the bodies during the ritual, or a "shiny cloth" means they wear it for a religious practice.[citation needed]
Aarti is generally performed one to five times daily, and usually at the end of a puja (in South India) or bhajan session (in North India). It is performed during almost all Hindu ceremonies and occasions. It involves the circulating of an 'Aarti plate' or 'Aarti lamp' around a person or deity and is generally accompanied by the singing of songs in praise of that deva or person (many versions exist). In doing so, the plate or lamp is supposed to acquire the power of the deity. The priest circulates the plate or lamp to all those present. They cup their down-turned hands over the flame and then raise their palms to their forehead - the purificatory blessing, passed from the deva's image to the flame, has now been passed to the devotee.
The aarti plate is generally made of metal, usually silver, bronze or copper. On it must repose a lamp made of kneaded flour, mud or metal, filled with oil or ghee. One or more cotton wicks (always an odd number) are put into the oil and then lighted, or camphor is burnt instead. The plate may also contain flowers, incense and akshata.[1] In some temples, a plate is not used and the priest holds the ghee lamp in his hand when offering it to the Deities.
The purpose of performing aarti is the waving of lighted wicks before the deities in a spirit of humility and gratitude, wherein faithful followers become immersed in God's divine form. It symbolises the five elements: 1) ether (akash), 2) wind (vayu), 3) fire (agni), 4) water (jal), and 5) earth (pruthvi). Communal Aarti is performed in the mandir; however, devotees also perform it in their homes.
[edit] Significance
When aarti is performed, the performer faces deity of God (or divine element, e.g. Ganges river) and concentrates on the form of God by looking into the eyes of the deity (it is said that eyes are the windows to the soul) to get immersed. Aarti is waved in circular fashion, in clockwise manner around the deity. After every circle (or second or third circle), when Aarti has reached the bottom (6-8 o' clock position), the performer waves it backwards while remaining in the bottom (4-6 o' clock position) and then continues waving it in clockwise fashion. The idea here is that aarti represents our daily activities, which revolves around God, a center of our life. Looking at the God while performing aarti reminds and reinforces the performer (and the attendes of the aarti) to keep God in the center of all our activities and understand that routine, worldly activities are peripheral and should not take priority over God. This understanding would give the believers strength to withstand the unexpected grief and keeps them humble and remindful of God during happy moments. Apart from worldly activities aarti also represents one's self - thus, aarti signifies that one is peripheral to Godhead or divinity. This would keep one's ego down and help one remain humble in spite of high social and economic rank. Performing aarti with such understanding keeps one in conscience.
Aarti is not only limited to God. Aarti can performed not only to all forms of life, but also inanimate objects which help in progress of the culture. This is exemplified by performer of the aarti waving aarti to all the devotees as the aarti comes to the end - signifying that everyone has a part of God within that the performer respects and bows down to. It is also a common practice to perform aarti to inanimate objects like vehicles, electronics etc. at least when a Hindu starts using it, just as a gesture of showing respect and praying that this object would help one excel in the work one would use it for. It is similar to the ritual of doing auspicious red mark(s) using kanku(kumkum) and rice.
[edit] Aarti songs
Hinduism has a long tradition of aarti songs, simply referred to as 'Aarti', sung as an accompaniment to the ritual of aarti. It primarily eulogizes to the deity the ritual is being offered to, and several sects have their own version of the common aarti songs that are often sung on chorus at various temples, during evening and morning aartis. Sometimes they also contain snippets of information on the life of the gods.
The most commonly sung aarti is that is dedicated to all deities is Om Jai Jagdish Hare, known as "The Universal Aarti" and is another common aarti song. Its variation are used for other deities as well such as Om jai Shiv omkara,Om jai Lakshmi mata,Om jai Ambe gauri,Om jai Adya Shakti.
In Swaminarayan Mandirs, Jay Sadguru Swami is the aarti that is sung. In most temples in India, aarti is performed at least twice a day, after the ceremonial puja, which is the time when the largest number of devotees congregates.
In Gaudiya Vaishnavism, aarti refers to the whole puja ritual, of which offering the lamp is only one part. A conch is blown to start the aarti, then an odd number of incense sticks are offered to the deity. The lamp is offered next, and then circulated among the devotees. A conch is then filled with water, and offered; the water is then poured into a sprinkler and sprinkled over the devotees. A cloth and flowers are then offered, and the flowers are circulated to the devotees, who sniff them. The deity is then fanned with a camara whisk, and a peacock fan in hot countries.
[edit] Aarti (Name)
Aarti (also spelt Arati, Arthi, Aarthi, Aarthy, Aarti or Arti) is also a name for Hindu women.
A young local girl lighting incense sticks at the local temple after she had just lit the lamps to her left. She was accompanied by her mother and father, who had no problem letting a girl of her age handle fire. To me it just shows a lot of trust in the child and faith in the entire temple - to keep those that you love and don't love from harm. The wheel shape is the symbol of Buddhism and each small pot is filled with oil. A small rope cutting is the placed in the oil with the tip poking out, and set alight. The burning of the rope is to symbolise the light of wisdom shutting out the darkness of ignorance. I was told that while lighting the candles you must only hold good thoughts and intentions for everything around you, no matter how you may feel about some of those things. It was also made clear that if at any point you see a light that has been blown by the wind or simply flickered out, you must relight it, so the blessings and light of the person that lit it originally may not be in vain.
Shooting Smoke with Canon 600EX-RT Speedlites. Smoke source is two incense sticks. Two speedlites, one each on camera left and camera right about 2 ft from smoke. Incandescent light shining on smoke to provide focusing aide. Black cloth background. Coloured gels on speedlites. Canon 5dm3, Tamron 180mm macro lens.
I've been wanting to try photographing smoke for a while. I finally bought some incense sticks and proceeded to smoke-up and stink-up my home office. Graham Jeffery has an excellent blog entry on how to photograph smoke. If you're interested, I'd head over there to see his photos and read about his technique. I'll post some comments on my blog when I get a chance. I colorized some of these images in Photoshop. Those that are more subtlety colored (about half of them) show the natural colors of the smoke itself (with some saturation added in a few cases).
All of my smoke images were created with two light sources. The first was natural light coming through an window on the left. I doubt the natural light contributed much (if anything), because my shutter speed was 1/250 and the f-stop was f/10. To the right of the smoke I placed a Canon Speedlite set to full power. Those setting pretty much nuked any ambient light. To prevent any light from spilling onto the background, and flaring into the lens, I attached a couple of 4" X 8" cardboard "gobos" to the sides of my flash (using Velcro). I wish now that I had taken a setup shot. Oh well, next time.
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I shot this a few nights back, and this kid was a genius he will make a great photographer , he kept saying cheese after each shot I took of him..
It was the event of Satyanarayan Puja at BMC Bandra West Ward office at St Martina Road..
About Satyanarayan Puja
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satyanarayan_Puja
The Satyanarayan Puja is a Hindu (Devanāgarī: हिन्दु) religious observance. It is a ritual performed by Hindus before/on any major occasion like marriage, house warming ceremony etc. It can also be performed on any day for any reason.It is believed the ceremony originated in Bengal as Satya Pir ritual performed by all communities (Hindu, Muslim and buddhists) and later in 1800s morphed into Satyanarayan puja.[1],[2],[3]
The Satyanarayana Puja is usually done on the Purnima day of every month (the day of the full moon) or a Sankranti. It is also done on special occasions and during times of achievements as an offering of gratitude to the Lord. These occasions include marriage, graduation, new job, and the purchase of a new home to name a few. In addition, it is said that a devotional performance of this puja will bear children to couples trying to start a family.
The puja starts by a prayer to Lord Ganesha, to remove all obstacles that may occur as a result of incorrectly performing the puja. This is done by chanting all the names of Lord Ganesha and offering prasad (a food offering, usually consisting of one of Lord Ganesha's favorite foods - modak, a sugar and coconut mixture, or ladu) and the showering of flower petals.
Another part of the prayer involves a prayer to the Navagraha's - the nine important celestial beings in the universe. They consist of Surya (the Sun), Chandra (the moon), Angaaraka/Chevaai (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Guru aka Bruhaspati (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Sani (Saturn), Rahu (the head of the Demon snake), and Ketu (the tail of the Demon snake).
The rest of the puja consists of worship to Satyanarayana, an extremely benevolent form of Lord Vishnu. First "panchamritam" is used to clean the place where the deity is placed. After placing the deity in the correct position, Satyanaraya swami is worshipped. Names of Satyanarayana are chanted along with offering of a variety of prasad (including a mixture of milk, honey, ghee/butter, yogurt, sugar) and flower petals.
Another requirement of the puja is that the story of the puja be heard among all those observing and partaking in the pooja. The story involves the origin of the puja, the benefits of it, and the potential mishaps that may occur with the careless performance of the puja.
The prayer concludes with an Aarti, which consists of revolving a small fire-lit-lamp in the vicinity of an image of the Lord. After the puja is over, participants and observers of the pooja are required to ingest in the prasad that was offered and blessed by the Lord.
It is told that Satyanarayan Katha is in REVA volume of Skanda Purana. But this volume is devoted to pilgrimages on the valley of river REVA. In Satyanarayana there is no Reva river. In original Skanda Purana there is nothing like Satyanarayana. Recent Skanda Puranas added it with clear note of its new addition in Skanda.
[edit] Pooja (Prayer) Vidhi (performing method)
The Satyanarayan Puja is performed in reverence to the Narayan form of Lord Vishnu. The Lord in this form is considered an embodiment of truth. This puja is conducted to ensure abundance in ones life. Many people carry out this puja immediately after or along with an auspicious occasion like a marriage or moving into a new house or any other success in life. It is believed the ceremony originated in Bengal as Satya Pir and was later adapted into Satyanarayan puja.
The Satyanarayan puja can be performed on any day. It is not a puja confined to any festivities. But Poornima (full moon day) or Sankranti are considered to be most auspicious day for this puja.
Performing this puja in the evening is considered more appropriate. However one can do it in the morning as well. On the day of the puja, the devotee has to fast. After bathing the person can begin the puja.
[edit] Materials needed for the puja
* Sinni': A special type of food offering, which is prepared by mixing unboiled milk, flour, sugar, smashed bananas, and other flavours like cinnamon etc., or optional garnishing like groundnuts, cashews, cherries, crushed coconuts/fruits etc.
* Kumkum powder, turmeric powder, rangoli
* Incense sticks, camphor.
* Thirty betel leaves, thirty betel nuts, two coconuts.
* Five almonds,
* Flowers to offer
* One thousand tulsi leaves; banana tree as a canopy[2]
* One square shaped wooden platform
* Two copper jars, two plates.
* One shawl
* A mixture of milk, curd, honey, sugar, ghee to make the panchamrita, Sandal paste.
* Akshat (rice grains) with kumkum powder.
* Attar, Indian perfume.
* Two flower garlands, conch shell, bell, a cloth, a ghee lamp and an oil lamp.
[edit] Shri Satyanarayan Katha
Shri Satyanarayan katha (narrative) comes from the Skandha purana, Reva kaanda. Suta Puraanikji narrated these stories, in Neimishaaranya to the Rishis who were performing a 1 ,000 year yajna for the benefit of mankind lead by Shounakji .
For those who observe the fast religiously and regularly, there are some great lessons to be learned from the 'katha' (narration)
This is shown by characters who ignored their promise to perform the puja after their wish had been fulfilled. They suffered as a result. Therefore one is to deduce that one must stick to the promise given to the Lord in exchange of the desire fulfilled by His Grace. One is not to ignore or/and forget the Lord's Grace. Prasad is symbolic of God's Grace which Kalavati ignored as she learned of her husband's safe return.
One can understand her eagerness in wanting to be re-united with her beloved, but one must understand that if one forgets to be thankful for gifts received from the Lord, one would have to go through another test until one remembers to remember.
When the rich merchant is asked what the boat contains, he untruthfully replies 'Only dry leaves' and the Mendicant says 'So be it' The above incident tells us that the spoken word has power. What you speak, manifests. Hence one must not speak an untruth. Especially an inauspicious untruth.
In the last story one learns that no one is higher or lower in status in the eyes of the Lord. Hence one must accord respect to whoever it may be, who is taking the name of God.
Once Naradji went to the Lord to ask Him for a panacea for the miseries of the world. Sri Satyanarayan told Naradji that there is a fast which can be performed by anyone. The fast would result in the fulfillment of his desires and also liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
Sri Narayana told Naradji how a poor, old and ailing Brahmin as well as an impoverished woodcutter, had all their wishes fulfilled, became prosperous, and ultimately attained salvation by the correct and devotional performance of the Sri Satyanarayan fast and puja.
The second story consists of a childless merchant who asked a king the correct procedure of the Satyanarayan fast. After learning the same, the merchant and his wife decided to perform the fast if they get a child. Sometime later his wife Lilavati became pregnant and she delivered a girl who they called Kalavati. Lilavati reminded her husband about his promise to keep the fast, but the merchant postponed it saying that he would do so when the daughter is ready to be married. The merchant did not fulfill his promise when Lilavati, the daughter is wedded. The Lord decided to remind the merchant of his promise.
The merchant and his son-in-law went to a city called Ratnasara in connection with some business. There, a theft took place. As the thief was being chased by the concerned authority, the robber threw the booty where the two merchants were resting, and escaped. The merchant and the son-in-law were arrested. Meanwhile Lilavati and Kalavati also lost their belongings due to some thefts and were rendered beggars. While trying to get some food, Kalavati saw a Satyanarayan puja being performed and told her mother about it. Lilavati remembered that she had not performed the promised puja and hence she was facing all these difficulties. She decided to perform the fast and the Puja. The king was informed in a dream, that the merchants were innocent so he released them after compensating them with a lot of wealth.
The merchants decided to come home to their wives. The Lord decided to test them again and came in the guise of a mendicant and asked what kind of load they were carrying on their ship. The merchant mentioned that they had only dried leaves. The mendicant said: "So be it" When the merchant saw that there were only dried leaves aboard, he asked the pious man for forgiveness. The ever merciful Lord forgave them one more time.
As the ship approached the city, the merchant sent word to his wife and daughter about their arrival. Lilavati rushed to meet her husband while telling her daughter to complete the puja. Kalavati performed the puja, but in her haste to meet her husband she did not take the prasad. When she eagerly arrived to meet her husband, she could see neither the ship nor the inmates.
The merchant realised that all the obstacles that they were facing were because he had not kept his promise of performing the Satyanarayan puja. He decided to do it. As he was performing it, he got an insight that it was due to the neglect of Lilavati taking the prasad, that they were going through further difficulties.
Kalavati rushed back home and respectfully partook of the prasad. The family was then re-united and they lived a long, happy and prosperous life never forgetting to thank the Lord for all that they received. After their death they got the ultimate gift: 'Moksha' (Liberation from the cycle of life and death)
Suta continuing his narrative, tells the Rishis, the story of a king called Angadwaja. Once, as King Angadwaja was returning from a hunting expedition, he stopped to rest under a tree for a while. Nearby a small group of cowherd boys were playing the game of doing puja. They offered their humble parsad to the king, who out of pride left it untouched. Subsequently the king suffered great losses and realised that that was due to the contempt he had shown for those children's puja. The king returned to the spot where he had met the cowherds, and with great faith performed the puja with them. The king regained all that he had lost.
Suta now told the Rishis that the Satyanarayan fast was very effective during Kaliyuga and that whoever read or heard this story would be rid of all sorrows and difficulties.
Pooja Box contains the following:
Abir- (Silver color flakes)
Agarbatti- (Incense Sticks)
Akshat- (Unbroken Rice)
Chandan- (Sandal Wood Powder)
Dhoop Batti- (Incense)
Diya- (Earthen lamps)
Diya Batti- (Non Seed Wicks of Cotton)
Ganga Jal- (Water from the Holy River Ganges)
Ilaichi & Long- (Cardamom & Clove)
Itr- (Extract of Flowers)
Kamal Gatta- (Seeds of Lotus Flowers)
Kesar- (Saffron)
Kumkum- (Red Powder)
Lal Vastra- (Red Cloth)
Mauli- (Red Cotton Thread Roll)
Panch Meva- (Dry Fruits (5 types))
Pooja Chitra- (Sticker of God &Goddess)
Pooja Pustika- (Worship Book)
Shree Yantra- (Engraved Copper Plate)
Sikka- (Silver Coated Coin with Picture of God & Goddess)
Sindoor- (Vermilion Powder)
Supari
Vietnams tradition in honoring their ancestors and gods requires a lot (!) of incense. So in many places you can find entire streets of small factories producing this holy stuff..
Picture of LuangPhor Parn with his Mother and Father, who he cared for in her old age and times of illness.
Even though LuangPhor Parn was abbot of Wat Bang Nom Kho temple. He brought his parents to the Temple and allowed them to stay in his Guthi, taking care and feeding them, and often wash his mother's clothing, regardless of his High status and amount of work he had to perform, he always make up time to take care his Parent.
In Buddhist teachings, one's Mother is seen as the most sacred person in Life, due to the pain she goes through in giving “Birth” to us, the worry when our young age and care she has for us as her children. When praying in Buddhist belief, the lighting of 5 incense sticks has the meaning of dedication to the Triple gem (Buddha Dharma and Sangha)the fourth stick is to dedicate to one's Mother and father, the fifth to the Kruba Ajarn, meaning Spiritual Teacher.
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Biography:
Luang Por Parn Sunantoe, his real name is Pra Kroo Wiharagijjanugarn. He was born in 1875 (BE 2418.), the youngest son of Mr. Aaj and Mrs. Im Sutawongs. During his younger age, he received the a nickname of "Parn", because of a red Birthmark on the little finger of his left hand, which was seen as an unusual trait mark that linked with Buddhism. LP Parn received his Ordination as a Bikkhu*(Buddhist Monk) on the First of April 1895 (BE 2438).
Luang Phor Parn is worshiped as one of the Top 10 Greatest Guru Monks of present-day in Thailand & many worshippers all around the world. He was the closest disciple of Luang Phor Niam Wat Noi, Suphanburi, and also a disciple of Luang Phor Nong Wat Klong Madarn. His two great teachers passed away with their bodies un-decayed. When Luang Phor Parn passed away in B.E.2480, his body was also un-decayed similar to his Guru teachers.
In 1932, five years before he passed away, he announced to all his disciples the date and time of his death. His precognition was quite clear and exactly correct; he passed away on the date and time he had preannounced. Luang Phor Parn was a meditative Guru Monk and also possessed magical knowledge. During Buddhist Dhamma, it was recorded that he reached the “Great six knowledge of miracles”. So he possesses knowledge on precognition, out-of-body ability, mind detecting, ability to do comprehensive paranormal phenomena activities etc.
Apart from this, he also possesses the highest state of “Wipassana” or knowledge of mind cleaning to stop next rebirth (Reincarnation). It was his great Dhamma practice that had cleaned and "distilled" his inner body (astral body) to crystal-like state which changed his body's cells immortal. Many great Guru Monks in Thailand hinted their Dhamma levels to their disciples in such way.
Luang Phor Parn's famous amulets have marked long-time uncountable records in warding off dangers of all kinds. And it's great for making holy water for healing illness that modern physician not able to diagnose & cure. Luang Phor Parn's amulets are extremely unique with Buddha sitting on a Garuda, Hanuman, Porcupine, Fish, Fighter cock and Bird.
Once Luang Phor Parn told his disciples that his amulets had been blessed for a period of three months, it's long time more than enough to charge Buddha's power into amulets capable of warding off dangers of all kinds. He said that if they were blessed for 3 years, the Garuda and the Bird on the amulet would fly out. (A real life news reporting of bird image flew out from the amulet was published in a Chinese newspaper; A shop’s CCTV of the amulet’s owner recorded the “flying bird” flying around his shop and flew back into the drawer where the amulet was kept.)
Luang Phor Parn's amulets are very popular among Thai amulets users and collectors because of their frequent miraculous phenomena both recorded and unrecorded.