A "nothing special" temple, a photo from Maharashtra, West

Photographer's Note

This is the Mahalaxmi (or Mahalakshmi) Temple, one of the most famous Hindu temples in Bombay (Mumbai).

Wikipedia can't make up its mind whether it was built in 1831 or around 1785, but 1831 seems most likely.

It is not far from Haji Ali's tomb which I showed in my last post, and I went straight from one sanctuary to the other. The weather remained grey and hazy.

This temple made me very disappointed. I quote from my diary:

"I was allowed to enter and drew the immediate conclusion that it was of no interest at all to others than dedicated Hindus and possibly first time foreign visitors who have never before seen a Hindu temple."

In spite of my disappointment with the temple as such I liked the courtyard shown in the main photo. Especially I am happy to have captured an elderly man dressed like the first generation of political leaders of independent India. I am not sure that men dressed this way can be found today.

Recent photos on the net suggest that this temple has been thoroughly restored since 1988. I hardly recognize anything at all.

Two more photos from the temple area can be seen in the WS. They were all scanned from Kodachrome slides.

This is the last post from my journey to India in 1988. I am getting homesick, so from my next post I will stay in my hometown for a while, showing only digital photos.

ikeharel, pajaran, Fis2, ChrisJ, pierrefonds, jhm, Royaldevon, COSTANTINO, jemaflor, PaulVDV, PiotrF, aliabazari ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

pajaran (114915) 2021-10-23 0:31

Pozdrav.

Lep pogled i trenutak, dobar tekst ...
Lep trg sa golubovima i arhitektura, dobro pokazano sa lepim bojama, kontrastom, perspektivom i uhvacenim trenutkom.
Dobar rad sa lepim fotografijama u radionici.
lepe fotografije urajdene skeniranjem sladova i secanje.

Zelim vam lep dan, sve najbolje za vikend.
Pajaf

ikeharel (112439) 2021-10-23 0:31

Reckon more pigeons than people...
Two picture with this temple sights, Gert, rightly chosen the main photo, though the WS we see how you were watched by the people on the stairs.
Wish you a nice weekend,
Ike

Fis2 (169731) 2021-10-23 0:35

Witaj Gert!
A very curious set of photos from daily life.
Good frames, colors and light.
Interesting places.
Well done.
Have a nice weekend.
Krzysztof

ChrisJ (171222) 2021-10-23 1:15

Hej Gert

The thumbnail hinted at something for sale in an outdoor market, but it was only pigeons, which are free. Good sharpness and the wooden and stone temple is anple compensation for the lack of an interesting fg. The people provide scale and animate the scene too. Tfs!

Silvio1953 (220605) 2021-10-23 3:48

Ciao Gert, nice scene, lovely composition with a lot of pigeons, fine details, splendid light, wonderful colors and excellent clarity very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

pierrefonds (113590) 2021-10-23 4:51

Hi Gert,

The presence of the pigeons is animating the scene. The point of view is showing the details of the temple. The light is enhancing the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

jhm (211734) 2021-10-23 6:21

Hello Gert,

You writes "nothing special" I see more picture on TE that maybe are 20% have value of your picture.
I've much learned through you series, for me a little bit vacation.
The temple, people and doves are a full-fledged image.
Nice composition good presentation too.
Very well done, TFS.
I know my English are not perfect, I hope that you understand what I write!

Have a nice weekend,
John

Tue (91574) 2021-10-23 8:36

Hej Gert,
Torvet i forgrunden ser livligt ud med de mange duer, hvoriblandt nogle der fløj lige foran kameraet. Også menneskerne omkring torvet giver en fin atmosfære, men det er især manden i hvidt det står frem. Templet ser faktisk ret ikke-specielt ud, men det danner alligevel en fin kombination med de grønne træer.
Lars

Royaldevon (85606) 2021-10-23 8:37

Hello Gert,

I can understand your disappointment with this temple, there doesn't seem to be anything remarkable about its design or carvings. Maybe that is why there are no stalls selling mementoes. But there is no lack of pigeons!

The guy dressed in white certainly looks like Mahatma Gandhi!
I would have been pleased to see those men in the w/s who are also dressed in what I would imagine is typical, Indian attire, too. Only the younger man is dressed in pants.

Your photograph seem, already, to be historical records!

Have a good w/e,
Bev :-)

lousat (138609) 2021-10-23 10:06

Hi Gert,a big disappointment for you from what I read, but now your photos take on a great value, as these scenarios have completely changed and distorted. Archival pearls of excellent quality despite the light, I really like the colorful WS with pilgrims on the staircase! Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

Gerrit (62042) 2021-10-23 13:17

Hello Gert,
Very peaceful atmosphere even with the blurred pigeons flying up. The colors are very pleasant.
Thanks and regards,
Gerrit

jmdias (114278) 2021-10-23 17:04

Gert

I guess I found this temple while in Mumbai, it was surrounded by hundreds of stores.
Nice thes three views with nice personages.
Tc
Jorge

mcmtanyel (67657) 2021-10-23 18:00

Hello Gert,
It looks like the pigeons are having a heyday in the main entry. My favorite photo is the one with the pilgrims on the stairs.
Regards,
MT

COSTANTINO (115539) 2021-10-23 22:18

hello dear friend
every temple has its interest...
and here this one...but the beauty
here are the pigeons dominating
the foreground...
i like the timing...
regards
cOSTANTINO

ifege (46951) 2021-10-23 22:38

Hi Gert
3 interesting ones of temple life from Mumbai. Just looking at all the pigeons I can't remember seeing pigeon on any menus in Mumbai!
cheers
Ian

jemaflor (146280) 2021-10-23 23:31

Hi Gert,
Nice view, well composed with architecture, people and a carpet of pigeons in the FG, good sharpness, tfs.

PaulVDV (62802) 2021-10-24 9:40

Hello Gert,
I've visited the Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat but I cannot remember seeing this temple in that area. Not another one either.
This must indeed be quite close to Haji Ali Dargah because I remember I walked from Mahalaxmi to the shrine.
As for the elder gentleman's attire: There was a huge difference in menswear between my travels in the 90s and those a few years ago. Only ladies seemed to wear the same beautiful saris as before.
You can still see the man's headgear in Nepal. But never in white.
The many pigeons provide a large part of the attractiveness of your main photo.
Very colourfully dressed men in the WS while the third photo shows also a young man who at first I wondered if he was a tourist but most likely a young Indian who was already in 1988 under western fashion influence.
Finally, I'm amazed that someone who has been travelling for months in a row can still get homesick :)
Best regards, Paul

Ilonka1974 (10289) 2021-10-26 9:54

Hi Gert,
A very nice daily life scene from this place .
Interesting composition with nice colours and good quality. Great presentation.
Best regards
Janusz

PiotrF (54246) 2021-10-27 15:11

Hello Gert
Nice view of the Mahalaxmi Temple with interesting courtyard. Thank you for informative note. I like the photos in the workshop, good colors and quality. Very good presentation
regards
Piotr

GyurMaster (24668) 2021-10-29 13:01

Dear Gert,

This one is quite a good nothing special, starting from the pigeons...

Of course, I could carry on.

Best Wishes,
Gy

PS: Thank you for your kind words on my latest photo and for your concern! I'm fine with my two Pfizer vaccines, besides I wear a mask where there are many people around, even if it is not obligatory here. Otherwise, there are "trains(planes in the original version) to catch and bills to pay", so that why I'm away from the site.

emka (157280) 2021-11-02 4:15

Hi,
Mumbai was the first city in India that I visited. I walked around quite a lot but was not at that part. I didn't know about Haji Ali's Tomb and this temple. I do not regret it. I visited the Jain temple that was quite fascinating. Maybe the Jain temples were my favourite in India.
I checked that indeed this is a famous temple. I wonder why. It doesn't seem interesting and also not so old. Maybe for the Lakshmi believers it is important. Also inside there are just three deities. Strange. The guy looks indeed a bit like Nehru in this white cap. But other men are dressed in the Western style. The nicest thing there is the gate with the clock.
With great sadness, I realized that after my break you do not know me anymore.
M

kasianowak (17672) 2021-12-09 12:00

At a glance, even in 1988 it was a very rare occurrence to spot a man dressed like this. These days probably nigh on impossible. The temple may not have been that interesting but you took at least three good people's photos there.
I really enjoyed this series but looking forward to photos from beautiful Sweden! :-)

aliabazari (21271) 2022-04-12 7:26

Hello Gert
Beautiful view of this temple. Good combination with pigeons in the foreground and pilgrims. Clarity and lighting done well.