Lahore Photo Blog Goes to Insead

Lahore Photo Blog went for ten days to INSEAD, Singapore campus and spent time with people from all over the world. It was a really good experience and hopefully some of the new friends will be visiting Pakistan Soon.

Pakistan's Image because of Social Media

We here at Lahore Daily Photo believe that people are generally good and it is not fair to generalize everyone based on a few things people hear. It has been our aim to provide a window into what Pakistan really is, Pictures speak a thousand words and  by showcasing the diversity that is Pakistan we have been able to gather an audience from all over the world learning about our country, our people, our places and our heritage.

Social Spaces are very effective because they are interactive and many people from Pakistan have effectively used Social Media to effectively portray Pakistan in much needed positive light.

Lahore Photo Blog has been nominated for Best photo blog in Pakistan Blog Awards I would appreciate it if you could go and vote for the blog. Vote on the link below and just rate (Star) the blog and comment if you have been a visitor and liked it, it will only take 2 mins, Thanks.

http://pakistanblogawards.com/2011/11/19/best-photo-blog-syed-ali-akbar-rizvi/

Political Rally

Pakistani Youth going to support the cricketer turned politician Imran Khan at a landmark political rally at Minar-e-Pakistan Lahore a couple of weeks back.

Lahore Photo Blog has been nominated for Best photo blog in Pakistan Blog Awards I would appreciate it if you could go and vote for the blog. Vote on the link below and just rate (Star) the blog and comment if you have been a visitor and liked it, it will only take 2 mins, Thanks.
http://pakistanblogawards.com/2011/11/19/best-photo-blog-syed-ali-akbar-rizvi/

Pakistan Blog Awards

Hello Readers, 
Hope you are all doing well, I know its been a while since I have regularly updated this blog. The reason for that has been that I have moved cities and now do not have access to as many photo ops as I did while I was in Lahore. Over the Years Lahore Photo Blog has tried to depict the life of an average Pakistani City. Even though not regularly updated Lahore Photo Blog has been nominated for Best photo blog in Pakistan Blog Awards I would appreciate it if you could go and vote for the blog. Vote on the link below and just rate (Star) the blog and comment if you have been a visitor and liked it, it will only take 2 mins, Thanks.

http://pakistanblogawards.com/2011/11/19/best-photo-blog-syed-ali-akbar-rizvi/

Jaleebiz

This young man is desperately waiting for the Jaleebiz to come out of the oil, Yummy. Jaleebi is a sweet, making of which is an art, the pasty dough has to be made just right, fried in oil at the right temperature, and then put in sugar syrup before being served, the thinner the Jaleebi the crispier it is.

Independence Day

This is a picture I took on a domestic flight on the last Independence day. Independence day in Pakistan is celebrated on the 14th of august to celebrate Pakistan's independence from the British.

Lahore Fort - Elephant Path

While I was studying in the states, I got some strange questions from my fellow students some of these questions were, Do you have cars in Pakistan or do you still ride on Elephants? Do you wear clothes where you come from or do you use leaves to cover yourselves? How did you learn English? These and some other strange questions used to catch us by surprise and we'd always smile before we answered.

Well this is actually a path next to the entrance of the Lahore Fort, The Mughals used to travel in style on "Elephants" This path was used by the elephants to enter the Fort.

Hiram Minar

 

I have previously also posted a picture from Hiran Minaar, This is a tourist attraction about 30 mins. drive from Lahore. This is an example of the great Mughal Architecture. This resort was built by a Mughal ruler in honor of a pet "Deer".

Janjeer Matam

Today is the 9th of Muharram the first month of the Islamic calendar, Muharram is a very important month for Shia Muslims because on the 10 of Muharram Imam Hussain the grandson and family (consisting of 72 people) of the Prophet Muhammed were killed by an army of between 20,000-30,000 at the Battle of Karbala on the orders of Yazid because Hussain did not accept him as Caliph and was not willing to take the oath of allegiance. in Muharram the Shia mourn their Imam and his death, a celebration of justice over evil.

I agree with wikipedia's description of Matam which is "Many of the male participants congregate together in public for ceremonial chest beating (matam) as a display of their devotion to Imam Husayn and in remembrance of his suffering. In some Shi'a societies, such as those in Bahrain, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Iraq, some male participants incorprate knives or razors swung upon chains into their matam. This practice is permissible by major Usooli Ayatollah such as Muhammad Shirazi and Sistani, however some major scholars such as Khameini have banned it in Iran temporarily, while others such as Fadlallah deem it permanently impermissible. In general however, the act is controversial."

Muharram Alam

Taken during a muharram procession in Lahore, an Al'am is of spiritual significance for the Twelver Shia Muslims in India, Pakistan and other areas. An Alam with a "Panja" on top of it is considered to be a religious flag of Islam, and it is said to be carried by the Prophet Muhammed, Hazrat Ali and Hazrat Abbas ibn Ali during battles or expeditions. The battle of Karbala further glorifies its importance. An Alam is usually seen during Muharram Processions and at designated sites in Shia Mosques.

Women carrying water

It is common to see women carrying water on their head in places where potable water is not available.

Art Festival

This picture was taken at the World Performing Arts festival at the fortress stadium in November, Artists from all over the world participated. Art and Music is highly appreciated by a majority of people in Pakistan, but sadly events like these even with high security are the targets by subversive elements of society who deem art as an evil anti islamic activity. This particular festival had a bombing in its last few days, fortunately no lives were lost but it was enough to discourage people from attending.

Hafiz Sahib

Since I started Lahore Daily I have been showing buildings and sights from lahore but not showcasing people of the city, the main reason is that people are reluctant to be photographed. I will try to show more people from the city in the future, This is Hafiz Sahib, Hafiz being a sort of title/qualification because he has memorized the Quran. Hafiz Sahib is an auto mechanic.

Tomb

This is the tomb of one of the most powerful advisors and the most powerful inister of the Mughal court Asaf Khan, The Taj Mahal was built in honor of his Daughter. Sadly the building is crumbling and plants growing all over the walls because of lack of care and maintanance.

Birds

Two birds sitting on top of a tree right infront of my terrace.

Lovely Blue Sky

The sky looked lovely with scattered clouds all over when I took this photograph.

Food Shop

There are numerous shops outside the shrines that have ready made food available so people can buy and distribute it to the poor visiting and spending their days at the shrines. Sort of like the American soup kitchens, 24 hours a day.

Door Data Darbar

One of the main entrance doors at the Data Darbar, the shrine of a Sufi Saint hailing from Iran. The shrine is visited by hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world. This door has arabic caligraphy on it and is made with 24 carat cold and semi precious stones.

Minar

This is one of the Minar s or Minaret at the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, the lighting at night makes it even more beautiful.

Its a Bugger

A squirrel at the Farm, I'm still away from the city and it took me 20 mins. to upload this re sized image of 115 KB. I will try my best to keep uploading pictures everyday but it will be hard. Thanks for visiting and your patience with my sporadic postings.

Paan

Paan is an ethnic Indian chew usually served at the end of a meal and ceremonies such as weddings, receptions. Paan can be bought in nearly every street corner in Pakistan. They are believed to help in digestion of curried foods and also act as mouth fresheners.

Emarti a sweet meat

These are Emarti's a sweet meat, they are fried and then dipped in sugar syrup, at a road side stall at the food street.

Hindu Deities

A display at Cuckoo's Den depicting Hindu deities.

Gola Ganda

An assortment of colored syrups to pour over crushed ice in what is called a "Gola Ganda" and enjoyed by Kids.

Tile Painting

Painting on ceramic tile at Cuckoo's Den Lahore.

Statue at Cuckoos Den

I've mentioned Cuckoo's Den before its a lovely Art Gallery and Restaurant situated in the Old City, owned and operated by one of the most famous and controvercial artists of Pakistan Iqbal Hussain. The restaurant is in the vicinity of Lahore's red light area and has a similar theme. With amazing food and views of the Fort and Badshahi Masjid it is one of the best restaurants in the City.

Gawal Mandi / Food Street

Part of the old city which used to be called Gawalmandi is now the food street with every imaginable Pakistani food available in one place.

Old City

This is a building in the old city, several years ago the government decided to restore some old buildings to their former glory and establish a food street to show visitors what the city was like in the olden times. If you are in Lahore the Food Street is a must go!

Clay pottery

Some clay pottery on display outside a closed shop at the Food street.

Friends I am headed to my farm in a rural area, the GPRS internet access there is not good enough to upload pictures or even browse properly I will be away for about 10 days and will get back to you when I return. In the mean time I have scheduled 10 posts to be published everyday, Take Care.

Meet Ashar

 

Lahoris have a deep love for food, This is Ashar a connoisseur of food happily posing in front of a food stall on Lahore's famous food street, a street in the old city with restored buildings and all kinds of heart attack inducing food on the street. Hygene is not particullary looked at in these types of food places and Ashar reffers to it as "Duurrtyy Food". This particular food is called Sajji, the chicken is roasted  all day in an open fire place over slow burning coal and is served with rice.