Surti Santa !!

Whether this Christmas brings cheer to the world or not, this Surti Santa seems more worried about the Santa Caps and Masks on sale!

Yuletide Spirit...

Christmas is here... and its time to spread the cheer around, Surti Style!!

Morning News...

Early morning news under the Banyan Tree... Athwa Lines!

Ashwini Kumar Road

Just as you cross the Varacha Road Railway Garnala (Underpass) and head onto Ashwinikumar Road, you come across a this interesting sight as you travel with the trains just above your head!!

Nearby the above road... an tired man tries to rejuvenate himself at the end of a hard days work!

Steely Defense...

An interesting steel sculpture in one of the diamond factories.. Are diamonds to be like this? Heavily guarded??

Umiya Dhaam...

Located right in the centre of Varacha Road is the Umiya Dham Temple.. an interesting work of art, where the Diamond Polishers come to pray. Navratri sees this temple become the hub of one of the biggest Garba's.

Diamond Hub...

For those Surtis who's impression of Varacha Road was an overpopulated area with bad roads and traffic, here's what it looks like now.. The buildings you see are Diamond Polishing Centres.

The Traffic Island on Varacha Road is aptly designed to reflect the shape of an inverted Diamond. The bldg behind it is a diamond polishing unit, where state of the art laser cutting machines are used.

Its said, 8 of 10 diamonds polished in the world are done in Surat.. Here's one more diamond factory.

Security in these diamond units is state-of-the-art, and all bldgs are completely sealed and aircon. Compared to the manual techniques used for polishing diamonds, currently its technology at work!

Surat Zoo...

Located at Sarthana, just opposite the Old Octroi Post while coming in from Kamrej and entering Varacha Road is the Surat Municipal Zoological Gardens, which is very well maintained, and has an amazing variety of species. Its spread over a vast area, and has all the amenities you would find in the good Zoos around the world. Incidentally, India's largest Butterfly Park located within the Zoo is all set to be open for public from 12.12.08. It surely warrants a visit!!!

Sensex Pizza!!!!

While driving through Varaccha Road, came across an interesting Pizza & Bhel outlet... named SENSEX !!! The Bombay Stock Exchange should open one on Dalal Street too... Would give the Bulls & Bears something to chew on!!!

Taking Bakri's for a ride...

Though these pictures are not of Surat, it was an interesting sight while driving back from Rajpipla... Just couldnt resist taking pictures of Bakri's being ferried on a bike!!

Surat Muncipal Corporation...

A sight all Surti's recognise .. the building of Surat Muncipal Corporation (Renamed Surat Mahanagar Sevasadan) caught on camera basking in the glory of the evening sun! The area around it is known as Muglisara (the original word is Mughal Sarai).

Signs of Winter....

It started out with a few Tibetans coming to Surat to sell sweaters and they would hang around Bhagal area displaying their wares on bicycles parked near the footpaths. They were easily identifiable by the typical costumes worn by their women. As time went on, more and more of these Tibetans descend on Surat around Oct/Nov, and setup shop in the lane behind Gandhi Baug, which is an unused stretch of road extending from Kwality Restaurant upto Gandhiji's Statue. Eventually it seems they have organised themselves under the "Tibetan Refugee Sweater Market", and even have a slogan for themselves... "Save India.. Save Tibet"!!

Surti Poetry....

A friend of mine who's recently migrated to Canada sent me this poem on life in Surat, and just couldnt resist posting it here, even though it went against my motive of only posting pictures taken by me!! Here's to you Quresh..!!!

Slitted Temple...

Couldnt help clicking an interesting sight while having Lunch at Kwality Restaurant. Riverside temple outside the restaurant.

Horsing around on Dumas Beach...

Sunday morning at Dumas Beach.. Young boy earns a living giving horse rides... caught in a pensive mood waiting for customers. Its very disheartening to see the state of Dumas Beach littered with all kinds of waste strewn around...

Baba for Surtis..

Most Surtis pilgrimage often to Shirdi including some relaxation time at Saputara the hill resort. One of the Sewak Mandals decided to bring a larger than life fibre idol of the Baba to Surat and let Surtis seek his blessings right at home! The idol has been taken all around the city to ensure all citizens can offer their prayers.

Dumas Bhajia's..!!

Nearest Beach is Dumas... but the beach there is hardly anything to talk about, though it does have its fair share of people going there every sunday evening...










What actually is famous in Dumas is the Lashkari Tameta Bhajia's... Sliced tomatos and green chilly chutney covered in besan and fried to a golden brown crisp.







These pictures were taken at 7am in the morning!!!... and you would find entire families hitting "Langar" for some golden brown bhajia's and cutting chai !!!

Ushering in the New Year...

A typical sight captured in Sagrampura area... on New Year's Day morning...!! Its believed by Surti's that one must do away with old Matka's and Jhaadu's on Diwali night and start afresh with new ones on "Bestu Varsh". The SMC had a hard time cleaning up the city and picked up an astonishing 1842 Tonnes of garbage.

Rangoli...Saathiya...!!

Surti women known for their creativity have long been fond of doing Rangoli's or "Saathiya" from Dhanteras to Laabh Pancham in front of their homes to appease the Goddesses.. From the few "Karothi" sellers in old Surat to the "Laariwala" selling colors in posh Athwa Lines area... its been one long journey, and Surti women just love to outdo each other on Diwali night!

A lovely Rangoli in Gopipura area... Apart from the colors n karothi, its in to use diyas and aabhla's!

Marigolds...

Surtis know its Diwali time the moment they see hawkers selling Marigolds all over town. Most Surti women buy marigolds in kilos and make the toran's themselves... while others prefer the readymade variety. I just couldnt resist catching two sellers in a pensive mood !!

Diwali Decorations...

In times gone by, Surtis used to make "Torans" to decorate the entrance to their homes... With times, these have now changed to readymade ones. Should you be buying crackers from any Fatakda Shop, you would come across shops like these selling Trinkets, Torans, Diyas, Readymade Rangolis...