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OBSERVE Collective
All images are © Copyrighted and All Rights Reserved
germanstreetphotography.com/michael-monty-may/
OBSERVE Collective
All images are © Copyrighted and All Rights Reserved
germanstreetphotography.com/michael-monty-may/
Annual Transgender festival @ Koovagam, Viluppuram, Tamilnadu, April 2013
Of the many bizarre and strange customs and festivals observed in India, the Koothandavar festival of Koovagam is one among them. The very basis of the festival, its associated rituals and the people involved make it the weirdest possible celebration on earth. A celebration of love and death, of sacrifice and life.
The small hamlet of Koovagam is present in the Vizhuppuram district of Tamil Nadu, making it virtually a ‘nothing’. However, once a year this tiny village turns into the biggest camp for transgenders from all over the country. They gather in flocks to take part in the rituals of the festival which lasts for 18 days, culminating on chitra pournami (april-may).
Story behind this
A festival which has its base rooted into the depths of the Mahabharatha war, Krishna’s cunningness and the noble nature of a very valiant young man.
War between the Pandavas and Kauravas was imminent. There was no way that a war could be averted, thus saving millions of innocent human lives. Krishna, as the protector of the universe was worried about the outcome of the war. It was true that he could intervene with his divine powers and avert catastrophe, but humans are required to decide their own fates. That’s what the vedas and shastras say. But still, he wanted the Pandavas to win the war, for he was on their side and their doings were just and moral. This would be the ultimate “Good wins over Bad” story if it went along as he desired.
Having no choice, he goes to Sahadeva who is blessed with the talent of accurately forecasting the future and reading horoscopes, Sahadeva rolled his Shozhi (shells used to help in prediction) and after several calculations looked up and said “To attain victory in the upcoming war, you need to sacrifice a man filled with all the good qualities of Valor, strength, bravery, beauty and such, to the goddess of war, Kali. He who first performs this sacrifice will gain the blessings of Kali and win the war”,
All along his way back his mind was filled with a single thought, “Is there anyone… Anyone else, other than Arjuna who can match the requirements of sacrifice? Anyone at all?” He pleaded, only to be met by a stunning silence. Krishna’s heart shattered at the thought of losing a dear friend. He felt light headed and started to sway with dizziness, when a voice cut through his haziness.
“Am I eligible to be sacrificed?” the voice asked. Looking for the source of the voice, Krishna’s eyes land on a very handsome man, dressed as a warrior and bearing resemblances to Arjuna. “Who are you, may I know?” questioned Krishna, as hope revived in his heart.
“I am Aravaan, the son of Arjuna, born to the Naaga princess Chithrangadha, through an illicit wedlock. I have come here to help bring victory to my father and his brothers. And if I can indeed help them win by sacrificing myself, then I am ready to die.” he proclaimed.
Krishna is flooded with relief. Using his divine powers, he comes to know that Aravaan is indeed a warrior par excellence, full of good qualities and excellent character. “He would make the perfect sacrifice to Kali”, Krishna thought and he beckoned Aravaan to come with him. He introduced Aravaan to the Pandavas including to Arjuna, his father (what weirdness!!!) and praised the sacrificial qualities of Aravaan. “So you will be sacrificed to the Goddess at the dawn of war, tomorrow. Purify yourself mentally and physically and prepare for the day. Long live your sacrifice”, Krishna told Aravaan and turned to leave.
“One moment my lord, I have but a few wishes to be granted before I die. Will you grant them?” Aravaan asked Krishna. “Why don’t you try me?” Krishna winked mischievously at Aravaan.” My lord”, began Aravaan,” I have had the good fortune to enjoy much in life, but before I die, I would like to enjoy the heat of a woman. I wish to die a married man, my lord.” Krishna is stunned. Which woman would marry a man who is going to the sacrificial altar the very next day? Probably none. No woman is crazy to throw her life away.”We will manage that”, he assured Aravaan, “Anything else?”.”Yes my lord, I would like to witness the entire war unfold, in my physical body and I would also like to fight on the Pandava side for a minimum of three weeks. Is that agreeable?”
It was here that the jealousy of Krishna kicked in. He knew that Aravaan was an excellent warrior and if he was allowed to fight there would be no need of any of the Pandavas or Krishna himself. “ParthaPuthra, what is ‘three weeks’ to a man like you? You can probably crush the entire enemy forces in three and a two third minutes. You will be able to fight on the Pandava side for those three and a two third minutes.” Aravaan agreed, charmed by Krishna’s flattery and speech. “If that is all, you can follow me to meet your bride, who will be your wife tonight and your widow in some days.” Krishna commanded.
Aravaan followed Krishna to the interiors of the palace. There, in the presence of the Pandavas and a few close friends, Krishna did the unbelievable. He transformed himself into Mohini, a form so beautiful that even Shiva had fallen for it, and in the presence of the elders, married Aravaan. That night Aravaan got his first wish fulfilled. Mohini seduced him with all her sexuality. All through the night, Aravaan was confused if he was with a man or woman. The smell of butter and milk reminded him of Krishna, but at the same time he couldn’t come out of Mohini’s clutches. The night passed and the day of the war dawned.
Aravaan was taken to the battle field and was made to stand at the center. There he tore off his skin from his arms and offered them to Kali. Kali, ever thirsty for blood, pounced on it and gave her blessings to Pandavas. The war began. Over the course of the 18 days, Aravaan kept Kali satisfied, stripping pieces from his body and offering it to her. On the final day when his allotted 3 and a two-third minutes of time came up, he realised that he had been tricked. He just had his head and his skeleton intact. A fat lot of use they would come to.
Conetemplating, he assumed his Vishwaroopa form and with his head as a large stone, he rolled over the enemy forces killing millions and badly hurting himself. The war was over. The Pandavas had won and the cause for it all, Aravaan, was lying, all alone on the Kurukshetra field. During his final moments on earth, when his life was ebbing away, he heard the high pitched wail of a woman. Turning towards the source of the wail, he sees Krishna, as Mohini, beating her breasts and wailing, the very picture of a widowed woman grieving her husband. With that final sight, his spirit soared heaven-wards and joined the other immortal heroes in warrior heavens, forever shining upon the brave warriors of yore. Aravaan had passed on, a happy man.
This chapter in the Mahabharatha forms the central theme of the 18 day festival at Koovagam. The small shrine at Koovagam is dedicated to none other than Aravaan himself and he is worshipped as Koothandavar. The 18 day festival celebrates the final days of Aravaan’s life, right up to his brave sacrifice on the 18th day. The highlight of the festival happens to be the marriage of Aravaan. The transgenders who gather here are the self-proclaimed brides of Aravaan. They claim themselves to be incarnations of Krishna, who was a man trapped inside a woman’s body, when he seduced Aravaan, just like the transgenders themselves. The first 15 days of the festival pass in dancing, singing and merrymaking, the transgenders putting up colourful and lively performances. All through the 18 days, a gigantic head of Aravaan is made and painted with the greatest care within the temple precincts
On the 17th day, the priest does special poojas to the idol of Aravaan and bringing upon the power of Aravaan on himself, he ties the mangalsutra (the sacred marital thread) around the neck of all the transgenders present there. They are now the wives of Aravaan, just for the night. A gala feast is organised which is followed by a night full of merrymaking, laughter and dance. The gigantic head of Aravaan is mounted on a chariot and taken around the village.
At the dawn of the 18th day, the air is ripped by sharp wails, as Aravaan is beheaded, widowing all his one-day-old wives. Following the traditions, the widows of Aravaan rip the Mangalsutraa from their necks, tear flowers out of their hair, throw away ornaments, and remove all cosmetics from their faces, wailing loudly, beating their chests, just like Krishna mourned for Aravaan long, long ago. They did a holy dip and wear a white saree (widow costume). And till that day arrives, they have to rely on the grace of Aravaan to take them through the rough times to come.
'Music gives color to the air of the moment."
Karl Lagerfeld
"People observe the colors of a day only at its beginnings and its ends, but to me it's quite clear that a day merges through a multitude of shades and intonations, with each passing moment. A single hour can consist of thousands of different colors. Waxy yellows, cloud-spat blues. Murky darknesses. In my line of work, I make it a point to notice them."
Markus Zusak, The Book Thief
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I have tickets to a Charles Lloyd Concert at the Musical Instrument Museum. I am a member. I wanted to familiarize myself with the Museum before the concert so I toured it. It is an incredible treasure in my backyard. A target rich environment for photographers.
The sign reads:
Khong mon (gong chime)
Thailand, mid-20th c.
Bronze, wood, glass, cowskin
Typically played at Thai funerals,
these tuned gongs are mounted on a
frame decorated with the figure of a
thep kinnaree, a woman-swan hybrid
from Thai mythology.
MIM began with a vision to create a musical instrument museum that would be truly global. Realizing most musical museums featured historic, primarily Western classical instruments, MIM’s founder Bob Ulrich (then CEO of Target Corporation) was inspired to develop a new kind of museum that would focus on the kind of instruments played every day by people worldwide. A focus on the guest experience shaped every aspect of the museum’s development. From the beginning, our goal has been to deliver a musical experience that is enriching, inspiring, interesting, and fun.
Today, MIM has a collection of more than 7,500 instruments from more than 200 world countries and territories. The galleries reflect the rich diversity and history of many world cultures. But music and instruments also show us what we have in common—a thought powerfully expressed in our motto, music is the language of the soul.
MIM’s immersive exhibits foster an appreciation of diverse cultures and the craftsmanship and traditions of instrument makers from the past to the present. A visit to MIM is also about experiencing the sensory nature of music and how it affects our emotions. Through state-of-the-art, interactive media, guests can see the instruments, hear their sounds, and observe them being played in their original contexts.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_Instrument_Museum_(Phoenix)
Musical Instrument Museum
MIM
Anemone observed while diving at Mozart Seamount on September 21, 2017.
Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Deep-Sea Symphony: Exploring the Musicians Seamounts.
Learn more about the expedition: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1708/welcom...
[Source: oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1708/dailyu...]
Class 37 locomotive No. 37421 arrives at Cardiff Queen Street station with 2R24, the 17:46 Cardiff Central to Rhymney service on Wednesday 14th August 2019.
Dreadful weather, but when there's heritage traction hauling service trains on the national network one has to make the effort.
“Mareca Americana” observed on a lake in the Mojave desert of California.
I believe this to be a juvenile male rather than the similar female Wigeon because there are numerous green feathers on its head which are only visible on my High resolution image.
Image - Copyright 2020 Alan Vernon
Here's another shot from that amazing evening I had on the end of Cape Kiwanda a few weeks ago. After the amazing color in the sky started to die down, one of the guys that had been excitedly watching the waves behind me, walked to this cliff and just had a seat to get even closer to the action. Also, if you haven't yet, I would be very happy to earn your vote in the Photo of the Year Contest. 2 of my photographs have been have been selected as semifinalists: Mt Hood above the Pear Orchard and the sunrise over Crater Lake. Thanks so much!
To observe objects in the distant cosmos, and to do science that’s never been done before, technicians and engineers needed to rethink space telescope design.
The James Webb Space Telescope is the first of its kind “open” style telescope that relies on innovative space shielding to block unwanted light from reaching its sensitive instruments.
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope's scientific instruments need to be cooled down to a temperature so cold, it would freeze the oxygen in Earth’s atmosphere solid. Intentionally chilling the telescope mirrors and instruments with innovative technologies and intelligent spacecraft design allows them to be far more sensitive to faint infrared light. Infrared can be described simply as heat, and if Webb’s components are cool, they are far more capable at observing faint heat signatures from the distant universe.
Shown here: Northrop Grumman technician Ricardo Pantoja performs a routine inspection of NASA Webb’s innovative blanketing along the connection point of its deployable primary mirror segments.
More on Webb's mirror shielding here: go.nasa.gov/2G78xMN
Image credit: NASA/Chris Gunn
I observed this phenomena at about 8:30 PM from Waddell, Arizona. The view is looking east and the clouds are illuminated by the lights of Phoenix. The star in the upper left quadrant is Arcturus. This disturbance stretched from horizon to horizon.
Something must have passed through the cloud layer to create the precipitation of the clouds to create the gap. This was probably done by an aircraft.
Visitors get a rare opportunity to view laser beams pointed at the moon at Optical Site.
Goddard's Laser Ranging Facility directs a laser toward the Lunar Reconassaince Orbiter on International Observe the Moon Night. (Sept 18, 2010)
Background on laser ranging:
www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LRO/news/LRO_lr.html
Credit: NASA/GSFC/Debbie Mccallum
On September 18, 2010 the world joined the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's Visitor Center in Greenbelt, Md., as well as other NASA Centers to celebrate the first annual International Observe the Moon Night (InOMN).
To read more go to: www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/features/2010/moon-nigh...
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center contributes to NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s endeavors by providing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.
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Hidden taken photo while waiting in a pub at Serenity Lost, Isle of Misfits.
Photographer: Spoty Point a.k.a. Spoty (spotpoint)
Carolina Wrens observed feeding on some nuts at a private residence on Borah Lake in Olney, Illinois. One of two that I observed in the area.
© All of my photographs are Copyrighted and All Rights Reserved.
They may not be used or reproduced in any way without my explicit written permission.
- Please observe the license on this photo before use -
Contact me if you would like to use this photo without the watermark. Click here for e-mail or contact me through Flickr mail.
You can also visit my other sites, for more photography.
Copenhagen based photographer Thomas Rousing excels in many types of photography like Citylife and Architecture | Portrait and Family | Wedding and Confirmation | Maternity and Baby | Concerts and Events | Food and Lifestyle.
Contact photographer Thomas Rousing here.
Visit NELSON CAN here.
Hasselblad 500c/m, Carl Zeiss Planar 80mm f/2.8 T*, Proxar,
Kodak Ektacolor Pro160 120 film,
Hong Kong
"For as long as your kind's been around, we've been watching. (...) We observe, we record, but we never interfere. (...)" :))
- Please observe the license on this photo before use -
Contact me if you would like to use this photo without the watermark. Click here for e-mail or contact me through Flickr mail.
You can also visit my other sites, for more photography.
Copenhagen based photographer Thomas Rousing excells in many types of photography like Citylife and Architecture | Portrait and Family | Wedding and Confirmation | Maternity and Baby | Concerts and Events | Food and Lifestyle.
Comet 46P/Wirtanen observed simultaneously with the UT2 and UT3 telescopes at Paranal Observatory. The comet is the turquoise fuzzy blob to the top of the image. UT2 is the large dome at the foreground, and UT3 the one right behind it. The small dome in the background is the VST telescope.
When I took this shot the comet was being observed simultaneously with two high-resolution spectrographs: UVES, at UT2, and ESPRESSO, at UT3 (ESPRESSO can be fed with light from any of the four UT telescopes we have, or even all four at once). These spectrographs separate the light of the comet into its constituent wavelengths, allowing us to decipher its chemical composition.
Canon 6D + Rokinon 24 mm f/2, 20 secs, ISO 3200. Edited in Lightroom and Affinity Photo
Taken at Blue Mound State Park in Minnesota, USA. This owl followed me for a while on a late night hike. The amount of wildlife in this little pocket of nature was pretty amazing. Lots of raptors, bats, and coyotes that made it kind of hard to sleep at night.
Happy Thanksgiving! One can indeed observe native orchids in the wild in late November in Minnesota. Fall/Winter/Spring leaves of the Puttyroot Orchid, Aplectrum hyemale. Hardwood forest in south-central Minnesota, November 28, 2013.
"Solidão é lava que cobre tudo
Amargura em minha boca
Sorri seus dentes de chumbo
Solidão palavra cavada no coração
Resignado e mudo
No compasso da desilusão
Desilusão, desilusão
Danço eu dança você
Na dança da solidão"
-- Paulinho da Viola
OBSERVE Collective
All images are © Copyrighted and All Rights Reserved
germanstreetphotography.com/michael-monty-may/
This field is perhaps the most spectacular of it's kind. With its large collection of magnificent stone rings, it clearly belongs to the country's most beautiful ancient monuments.
In the 1950s, the field consisted of at least 48 visible burial mounds of various kinds. In addition to 11 large, now restored stone rings, there were 11 round burial mounds, 13 stone mounds, 2 round stone settings and a round pile with stone ring, as well as 10 single standing stones. In the Southern part of the field a number of flat graves have been observed, and here there is a small rock carving field on a rocky ground. The examined stone rings are dated to pre-Roman Iron Age (approx. 500 BC - Kr.f.).