Tootfinder

Couple of days ago, I sat in on an intro class of "yakshagaana", a #dance #music #art form popular on the west coast of South #India. This was at a #summer #camp in #Udupi.
The chalkboard shows a basic 7 beats rhythm ("thaala") and melody ("raaga").The text is written in #Kannada.
My first time #learning this material. Was fun.

Re: #Udupi #Krishna:
1. The 2-headed eagle in the medallion on Krishna's chest is "gaṇḍabhēruṇḍa", a form of Wishnu in #Hindu myth. It is also the #emblem of the state of #Karnataka. 🦅
2. My wife and I had the fortune of providing the blue clothing in this presentation. 🙇‍♂️
#culture #India

A "laddige" is a ball of crushed rice pops (rice still with bran) rolled with a syrup of jaggery (cane sugar). It is a prominent daily offering to Krishna in #Udupi #India and is given/sold as "prasaada" to devotees.
Not all laddige prasaada is actually from the altar because scale.
#food

Offerings into #fire along with sacred #Hindu chants at "riksamhitaa yaaga" ☝️
(turn on sound to hear the chanting)
#photography #amateur #Udupi #India #video

A local visitor brought us this nice "apple" today.
#food #fruit #Udupi #Karnataka #India

Same day and place ☝️, conclusion of 9-day "riksamhitaa yaaga": offerings to #fire while chanting "rig veda" (ancient #Hindu scripture).
Superb ambience—colors, smell, sounds, objects—followed by heavenly food.
PS: Zoom in to #3. Video 👇
#photography #amateur #FotoMontag #photoMonday #Udupi #India

This Saturday I was fortunate to attend a live #Carnatic #classical music concert by renowned sisters Ranjani and Gayatri in #Udupi #India.
Great vocals accompanied by excellent violin, mrudangam, and ghatam. Two hours of heavenly #music. 🎶
They're on YT: https://youtube.com/@ranjanigayatri?si=-5GzIJYV2V-jO66k

Jan. 18, 2026: First day of Shirooru Matha's "paryaaya", which is their turn to offer and manage services at Krishna Matha in #Udupi #India.
1: Main entrance decked with veggies, fruits, flowers, lights
2: Closeup of #1
3: Chandeliers at back entrance
#photography #amateur #FotoMontag #PhotoMonday

I can't tell you where the bananas went but I can show you where the banana peels ended up. 🍌
(Nov. 12, 2025. Shirooru Matha #Udupi #India. Fully-dried peels are burned to make "akshathe" for use in temple services.)
#photography #amateur #FotoMontag #PhotoMonday #food #fruit #bananas #Hindu

This closeup of a brilliant #Udupi #krishna. The warm glow is from "aarathi" (a plate of lit ghee-soaked wicks held in front of the idol) and that light reflects off the #pearls. 🦪 🌟
(not my picture, but I straightened and cropped it)
A different but full view with details:
#photography #India #temple

What's better than seeing one setting sun? 🌅
How about two setting suns? ☺️
#photography #amateur #FensterFreitag #WindowFriday #sunset #Udupi #India

Fruitful end to a nearly 8-month search for a good rental in #Udupi #India. ☺️
#housewarming #photography #amateur #event #door

I love the people of #Udupi #India, and not just because of their heavenly food, but I'm sorry, they have terrible taste in #coffee and #tea. Coffee especially. ☕
#life #opinion #beverage #travel

New #utensils added to #Udupi #Krishna Matha #kitchen, #India. At least some of these are likely to be used for decades to come. 🙇‍♂️☺️
25 large spoons, 12 small spoons, 2 handmade pots. All well-crafted high-quality stainless steel. Total cost ₹6500 ($70). I think money well spent.
#grateful #durable

I took this super closeup of the #asteroid 2024 YR4. 😉
OK OK. JK. 😜
This is a closeup of a "laddige" my wife and I received two days ago at #Udupi #Krishna Matha. The ridges are finger impressions when the "ball" was made. This particular ball had actually been offered to Krishna at the altar earlier that day, and we were #fortunate to receive it. 🙇‍♂️
About laddige: 👇
#food

Jan 27: Service of Shree Kaniyooru Matha, at Pajaka Kshetra near #Udupi #India. The main deity is "yogaa narasimha".
1, 2: Before and after decorations: "alankaara pooje"
3: Closeup, some decorations removed
4: After final service: "mahaa pooje"
#ama
#photoMonday #FotoMontag #photography #amateur #Hindu #temple

If this 10-min number does not make you (want to) move, I'll stop sharing music links. Guaranteed. 🎵
If you moved to that, also try 5 mins at both 1:18:35 and 1:56:49.
#Udupi #India)
#musc #bhajan #classical #classicalMusic #Tamil #Telugu #Hindi #Kannada

#tbt: Impressive #sculptures set in the walls of a Raghavendra #temple in #Udupi #India. Jan. 7-15, 2025.
In much of South India, #Thursday is traditionally dedicated to Shree Raghavendra Theertha, a renowned 17th century vaishnavist philosopher.
#photography #amateur #art #Hindu #throwbackThursday

KSR Railway Station, the main train station in #Bengaluru #India as we await the train to #Udupi. 🚉
PS: "Garden City" is Bengaluru's moniker, which is just so not apt anymore. Still a nice city.
#travel #trains #excitement #photography #amateur

#tbt: Pictures of some #portraits seen in the halls of Shree Sodhe Matha in #Udupi #India (Jan. 18, 2025)
The first two portray ("horse face"); the other two depict Waraaha (a boar). Both are forms of Lord Wishnu. #ama
PS: These are some of the finest modern portrayals I've seen. Also rare style for the setting they're in. Uneven ambience made taking pictures hard but I'm pleased with how they turned out. ☺️
#photography #amateur #Hindu #history #mythology #throwback #throwbackThursday

View from the balcony, at #sunrise. 🌅
Love how the golden rays gently light the tree on the right, and light the idols on the left performing the morning's "aarathi". 🙇‍♂️
#ama about the setting.
#photography #amateur #Udupi #India #nature #blessed