Happy New Year

Coffee

Today is National coffee day in Nepal, so drink coffee and save beer.

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Gaurav ....

That's my name in Nepali.

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

A glass, window and the shadow ....

I just tried pinhole photography for the first time and this is the first shot by me. I always want to try it but could not able to do so because of many things but, from now on I will try more stuff. I am still learning so; have to learn a lot about lens less photography.

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

My seventh photography exhibition ....

My 7th group photography exhibition .... Cycle 2: Flora at Galleria CUC.

Photography exhibition featuring the works of Om Yadav, Sagar Chitrakar, Cheteze Tamang, Shikhar Bhattarai, Prajwal Bhattarai, Nirbendra KC, Swapnil Acharya, Kushal Goyal, Prashant Shrestha, Sumina Subba, Prazwol Sijapati and Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka.


This is the poster of my 7th group photography exhibition.

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Bhai Tika (Final Tihar Day)

On the final day also known as Bhai Tika Day, sisters give tika (a colored powder placed on one?s forehead), and mala (a necklace of flowers or also known as flower leis, similar to that's used elsewhere like in Hawaii!) to brothers along with wishes for long life and prosperity.

To sisters, Tihar is also the time to re-call their continued wish for a long and a happy life for their brothers. Brothers sit on a floor while sisters perform their puja. Puja involves following a traditional ritual in which sisters circle brothers three times dripping oil on the floor from a copper pitcher. Afterwards, sisters put oil in brother's ears and hairs, and then give Tika. Also breaking of walnuts by sisters prior to giving Tika to brothers is also a common practice. Tika starts with placing a banana leave already cut into a line shape placed on brothers forehead held by one of the sisters hand, then applying Tika base (made from rice paste) in the open space. Then sister dabs seven colors on top of the base using her fingers. Some may give Tika with the help of a small stick or a brush without the using banana leaves. In this case, small stick is dipped into the Tika base, and then brushed vertically on the forehead, then using a different stick; the seven colors are applied on top of the base. After Tika, flower garland is put around brother's neck. Then brothers give Tika to sisters in the same fashion. Sisters also receive flower garland around their neck. Brothers give gifts such as clothes or money to sisters while sisters give a special gift known as Sagun (which is made of dried fruits and nuts, and candies), and a fantastic Tihar feast takes place. Those without a sister or brother, join relatives or friends for Tika. Sisters pray for their brother's long life to the Hindu God of Death (Yam Raj).

Find out more about Tihar at here.

Happy Tihar to you all!

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Deusi Songs

Male members sing what is called Deusi or Deusuray in Nepali. You can write just about any Deusi song as long as each line ends with the word `Deusi' or `Deosuray'. A group of males get together, carry what-ever musical instruments they have or can play, and sing Deusi door to door blessing the home and family in return for money and/or refreshments. Teenagers perform various Deosi songs to collect money for their picnic! Some may play Deusi to collect money to build a new trail in a far away village in Nepal! During the Tihar festival the only kind of songs you are most likely to hear from local Radio stations are nothing but Tihar Songs, Bhailo, Deusi and folk songs about sisters or brothers unable to see each other during the festival due to various reasons. A poor sister, now a daughter-in-law may not get even a day's break to visit her brother on this special day, and she might sing a song to make your tears flow!

A Sample of Deusi Song. Includes a similar meaning in English.
Bhana Mera Bhaiho Deusuray. (Say it my brothers, Say it. Deusuray).
Sormelai Kana Deusuray. (Say it louder and say it in tune. Deusuray).
Rato Batoo Deusuray. (Red mud trail. Deusuray).
Chiploa Batoo Desuray. (Slippery trail. Deusuray).
Laddai Paddai Deusuray. (Slipping and Sliding. Deusuray).
Akeya Hami Deusuray. (Finally we made it to your home! Deusuray).
.... .... Deusuray.
.... .... Deusuray.
.... .... Deusuray.
Yo Garma Laxmi Deusuray. (In this home Goddess Laxmi. Deusuray).
Sadthai Aun Deusuray. (Always come. Deusuray).
Hamilai Denus Deusuray. (Give us what you have money or meal).
Bidtha Garnus Deusuray. (Please give us now, say good bye to us, so we sing for next home!).

Mahapuja - The fourth day of the Tihar is also about worshiping yourself. This puja (worshiping) is known as Mahapuja. This is also the first day of the special annual calendar of an ethnic group known as Newar residing in Nepal. The coming of a new year is also celebrated in Tihar. Also a popular ritual of the day is the Govardhan puja or Goru Tihar (Oxen Worshiping). Oxen are worshiped on this day as they till lands and help grow crops to sustain life.

Find out more about Tihar at here.

Happy Tihar to you all!

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Laxmi Puja Tihar

One of the most important days of the festival is Laxmi Puja on which day the Goddess of wealth Laxmi is worshiped in every household in the entire Nepali Kingdom by means of Puja, decoration, candle lights, and oil lamps. In this 3rd day of the Tihar Festival, the entire nation becomes an illumination of lights. Pictures and icons of Laxmi Devi (Goddess) are placed and worshiped in a Puja room (or a place in a living room or a dedicated room for worshiping Gods) Puja is performed using flowers, incense, oil lamps, color-powders, bell and money (both notes and coins). Laxmi puja is performed at dusk using red mud, and puja is often done by a female in the family. She uses her hand covered with red mud to make a symbolic foot-print on the floor entering the home and makes a trail leading to the Puja room.

Laxmi puja is not only for households but is equally done by Companies. Business Laxmi Puja is done exactly the same way as is done in home. Usually company's cashier performs the puja during which time the entire office including office compounds are lit with various lights including electrical, candle lights, and oil lamps and usually staffs are invited to participate in the puja procession.

Bhailini Songs: The eve of Laxmi Puja Day is made spectacular not only by lights but also by echos of a special song known as Bhailo or Bhailini that's played only on this day in the entire year! A group of girls get together and sing Bhailo door to door, giving blessings to the family in return for money or homemade treats.

Find out more about Tihar at here.

Happy Tihar to you all!

New Nepali bank note of 5, 10, 20 and 50. 100 bill of each of 5, 10, 20 and 50.

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Gai Tihar

The 3rd day of Tihar is about worshiping the mother of the universe - cow (Gai). According to Hinduism, the human infant is fed breast milk by its human mother for under three years. After weaning, the cow acts as the surrogate mother providing milk for the rest of the human life - through childhood, adult age and old age. Cows are the mothers of the universe, the sacred animal. The cow puja is performed by giving a tika to a cow on her forehead, and a flower garland (Flower Leis) on the neck, and offering good meals. Those performing Cow puja place her manure in different parts of the home; drink a drop or two of the cow's urine, as a part of a purification process. Also dip a blade of grass into the urine and lightly sprinkle it on each other's body to become closer to the mother of the universe - cow.

Find out more about Tihar at here.

Happy Tihar to you all!

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Kukur Tihar

On the second day of Tihar, Kukur (Dogs) are adorned with flower garland around their necks, red tika on their forehead, and are offered great meals, and they are the king of the day! On this day, people pray to the Kukur to guard their homes. Call someone "Kukur", he/she will bash you instantly! There are lots of Kukur running around in search of a loving home. You can find them on streets and in your backyards, but on this day, even the most unsightly Kukkur will be treated like a king, everyone has a day. Tihar is also about breaking the boundaries only men created, "The Good", "The Bad", "The Ugly", and all but same to the mother nature! In Hinduism it is believed that Kukur guard's the underworld empire just like it guards our everyday homes! Tihar is about loving Kukurs too!

Romeo

Find out more about Tihar at here.

Happy Tihar to you all!

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Kag Tihar

Here comes Tihar to teach you a lesson! Early in the morning of the first day of Tihar, family prepares a good meal. Each member of the family takes the first portion of the meal outside on a platter. The crows come down in large numbers and partake of the feast; they will call others before beginning to eat: Share, Share what you have with all! Crows (Kag in Nepali) are considered as the messenger of the Lord of Death, Yama. There is a popular Nepali superstition of crows too: When the crows caw, sadness is coming.) On this day crows are worshiped and are kept happy. Where there are no crows, any winged animal of the heavens (bird) will enjoy the feast. So Tihar is also about appreciating animals around us.

Find more about Tihar at here.

Happy Tihar to you all! .

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

World Photography Day

My sixth photography exhibition ....

What do you think about me?

What do you think about me? This is what 17 very talented and awesome writer and photographer think about me.

17 talented and awesome peoples are Abha Eli Phoboo, Ajit Baral, Arpan Shrestha, Diwas KC, Prawin Adhikari, Rabi Thapa, Sushma Joshi, Utsav Shakya, Bhushan Shilpakar, Nishant Shilpakar, Suraj Shakya, Dhruba Ale, Nayan Tara Gurung Kakshapati, Prateek Rajbhandari, Rockey Prajapati, Sudhir Bhandari and Sushan Prajapati.

Thanks,
Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Nag Panchami

A smallest viper resting after a meal - a rat, it was for display at Bandar Utama, One Utama, PJ, Malaysia.

It was taken last year at Nag Panchami.


A smallest python in a world as said by a girl that represents the python, it was also for display at Bandar Utama, One Utama, PJ, Malaysia.

It was also taken last year at Nag Panchami.

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Budget....

I wish my budget is more so I can do more .... but to make a better budget for something you have to save it too .... and I do not have any saving but from now on I will try my best to save so later I can use it for my better.

Coins on the wish luck pond at River Side Springs Resort, Kurintar, Chitwan.

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Walking through the pine forest ....

There are not much of the pine forests around Kathmandu valley, but still feel good and fresh to hike around it whatever we have around.

It is sad that we have small amount of pine forest around Kathmandu valley and peoples are still cutting down pine trees.

Do you look back at the place that you just passed through?

See the beauty from other side.

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Dogs

Queen of the own place....





The queen is sleeping in her own place and no one can make her wake beside her king.

Dog enjoying a sunbath at Changunarayan, Bhaktapur.

Lazing around ....

I spend my days lazing around in the steps of Changunarayan, if you do love to take my photographs then you are must welcome. Not only me, but you can take photographs of my other friends you can find around Changunarayan temple too.

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Love is fading away....

Is your love true? Do you love someone with true and pure heart? Nowadays it is very rare to find a true love; lover spot in Kathmandu valley are full with couples mostly engaging in sexual activities and even some are in school dresses. I am not saying that who love with true and pure heart do not have sex, but sure they do not have it in public place. Is it a one night stand love or even less as a bollywood film kind of love of two and half hour love?

Is your love a true love or is it fading away?

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Monsoon in here ....

Monsoon normally hits Nepal by the second week of June. But this year's delayed due to the fluctuating weather condition in the Bay of Bengal and northern India.

During the rainy monsoon season between June to August, it rains to an average between 200-375 millimeters in Kathmandu. There is occasional rainfall during the other seasons too. In an average, 1300 millimeters of rain falls in Kathmandu every year.

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Light over the mountain ....

If you see something with your eyes you can figure out what it is but sometime photography can also make you see something that is not what it used to be. See this photograph and figure out, what it is? It is not a light and not a photograph of the mountain.

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Player flag....

Player flag at Bauddhanath, Kathmandu.
Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Lonely ....

Still alone and lonely.

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Alone

Not everyone is lucky to be with their loved ones, I am still alone as I use to be.

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

The way we manage the wire ...

The way we manage the wire, the Nepali way. Taken somewhere around Babar Mahal, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Holga 120N

My dream camera, I always wanted to play with it and want to have it. Finally, I got one and soon start to take photographs with it. Everyone is moving on to digital photography but there is still something good about film photography and I love to enjoy the film photography and my new gf Holga 120N.

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Free bird ....

Dance as a free bird ....

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Paint my love ....

Paint my love.
you should paint my love.
it's the picture of a thousand sunsets.
it's the freedom of a thousand doves.
Baby you should paint my love .

From MLTR - Paint My Love.

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

The Connection

Two of my photographs were published in photo feature section of Republica of May 29th, 2009.
Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

The Connection

Two of my photographs were published in photo feature section of Republica of May 29th, 2009. I was part of the photography workshop that was conducted by award winning documentary photographer Munem Wasif as a part of the Travelling Chobi Mela hosted by photo.circle at Nepal Art Council from May 23 to 26, 2009. Each day, participants have to work on the assigned topic "closeness". Participants were instructed to take photographs of something very close to them, to the hearts. They could interpret the world in their own way, conceptually and this is what I did.

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Rise and fall

Maoist CA election banner, a bit slipped away at Ratnanagar, Chitwan.

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Leafline

Leafline.

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

What's on a man's mind?

What's on a man's mind?

That what's on my mind too? ......; )

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Black rose

As the love faded away, so does the red rose turn into black as your heart turn black on me.

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Interconnection

Thread interconnected of my white silk shirt.

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Play my guitar...

If you can, then play my guitar as you played with me life.

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Drops...

Drops with life. Life in drops.

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Seven...

Seven... just an abstract nature photograph.

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day! 2009...

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

The wind of change....

The wind of change....
Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Kiss Call.....

Wanna have a kiss?

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

April

My heart is yellow...

I am away from home in valentine day; I miss a lot of good things that make me feel bad of being away from home and my loved ones. But this valentine day was one of the best valentine day so far though I am away from my home and loved ones, because I joined UR Loved project...

I have never done this kind of things before but heard similar kind of project called Free Hugs project. But I never make it to Free Hugs project before when it happens in Malaysia. May be I will try not to miss it from now on....

UR Loved project, started on 12:30 at Annexe street, Central Market at KL but due to the security problem we have to move it to the other side of the Central Market street but later UR Loved project turns into Free Hugs project...

I really enjoy hugs with strangers and with all of my new friends, whom I met on that day but feels like I know them before. May be we should do another UR Loved project/Free Hugs project. ..I had fun guys, you all rocks!!!..

Thanks for making my valentine day a wonderful and awesome one....

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

A Happy Valentine's Day .....: )

Wish You a Happy Valentine's Day .....: )

Heart shape ice at McDonald at near Nepal Embassy at KL.

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

......never been kissed

I saw an angel in a subway and she is smiling at me, she want kiss or something from me..... but do not know what she want from me..... her lips look like heaven without touching, I wonder how it feel with the touch.

P.S. Lips on billboard of some cosmetic shop opposite of Borders Book shop at Tropicana City Mall, PJ.

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

Happy Chinese New Year

Happy Chinese New Year to all of them who celebrate it and to all who do not celebrate it, Gong Xi Fa Cai!..

Music show in PETRONAS Tower nearby Ampang entrance. ..

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka

I will put my pants on….

I think this is my first step into a nude photography officially. Bimal was happy to be nude and I am happy to shoot him. It was getting dark so this photograph has a bit of noise. Bimal did not let me take his photographs from near and with using flash, so it is like that.

This photograph was taken somewhere on the beach at Port Dickson.

Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka