tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9939966.post8798896985822173404..comments2024-03-28T14:16:51.745+05:30Comments on Known Turf: She, who providesAnnie Zaidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687223598027157611noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9939966.post-88989367351174511902007-03-26T13:04:00.000+05:302007-03-26T13:04:00.000+05:301. agree with mutant that the cops were only doing...1. agree with mutant that the cops were only doing their job, being Indian cops they have gotten used to projecting power though and do this in the rudest possible way.<BR/><BR/>Most temples have arrangements for this in a nearby pandal/prasad stall with a reasonable fee not extortionate as others seem to hint. <BR/><BR/>Regular devotees put up with this, its for their security. Investigative Jai_Choorakkothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11795629014937167288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9939966.post-84482712889651308012007-03-25T22:57:00.000+05:302007-03-25T22:57:00.000+05:30@smriti The circumstance of the bribe to the cop i...@smriti The circumstance of the bribe to the cop is not clear from the posting, so I would not comment on that. <BR/><BR/>But in general my earlier experiences with temples is that bribes are in fact quite common. Some times the priests force one to do certain pujas/rituals, and it is difficult to deny once you are inside. At other times, one is almost sure to buy flowers/diyas before entering Mutanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12948508196910496298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9939966.post-46821276814168426352007-03-25T18:36:00.000+05:302007-03-25T18:36:00.000+05:30the bribe would have pushed away the desire to vis...the bribe would have pushed away the desire to visit Annapoorna...and a bribe that had to paid by a rickshaw-puller puller would definitely have. Do you know why he had to pay the cop? Did you have to reimburse the driver or did he have to forfeit a part of his pay?<BR/><BR/>Would mutant and annonymous argue that that too was a part of the holy norm?Smriti Ravindrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10991520499069306949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9939966.post-23778002266661638492007-03-25T06:28:00.000+05:302007-03-25T06:28:00.000+05:30@Annie: You were going to a sacred venue and elect...@Annie: You were going to a sacred venue and electronics technology is much too advanced today. The guards were doing their job.<BR/><BR/>Varanasi is a living synthesis of realities separated by centuries e.g., modern research at BHU (on one hand) and the famous hindustani musical events on the shore of Ganga(on the other). Considering you are a journalist, I sincerely hope this blog posting is Mutanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12948508196910496298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9939966.post-27611068501276823072007-03-25T02:25:00.000+05:302007-03-25T02:25:00.000+05:30There are stalls outside the temples who will prov...There are stalls outside the temples who will provide you with a 'free' locker service provided you buy the ridiculously expensive flowers and other <I>pooja</I> essentials off them.<BR/><BR/>Some of my B&W photographs from Banaras are up <A HREF="http://www.flickr.com/photos/harneet" REL="nofollow">here</A>. More, and colored too, if you have time to dig deeper into the 'Places' set.Harneethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15645852226260673871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9939966.post-79687491097884916522007-03-24T17:10:00.000+05:302007-03-24T17:10:00.000+05:30I am never without my phones...both of them...so c...I am never without my phones...both of them...so can understand why you were carrying yours...:)Jay Sunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08617579343335812849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9939966.post-10766611909716339602007-03-24T16:00:00.000+05:302007-03-24T16:00:00.000+05:30mutant: i did not particularly want to carry a pho...mutant: i did not particularly want to carry a phone. i just do carry a phone everywhere. so does everyone else who has a cell phone. that's the point of having one. as for norms... of course, i comply. or else, i don't go in. there is no other alternative that is worth trying, really.<BR/><BR/>anonymous: predictably anonymous, eh? have disabled anonymous comments again. wish i didn't have to, Annie Zaidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08687223598027157611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9939966.post-58412595185187439172007-03-24T12:44:00.000+05:302007-03-24T12:44:00.000+05:30Alas! The great victim has once again been victimi...Alas! The great victim has once again been victimized!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9939966.post-91169926701919501232007-03-23T19:55:00.000+05:302007-03-23T19:55:00.000+05:30> ... desire to see her was gone.You have not desc...> ... desire to see her was gone.<BR/><BR/>You have not described why you wanted to carry a phone in the first place? Is it so important to carry one while visiting Annapoorna? <BR/><BR/>I know a day-care that says at the gate: 'cell-phones not allowed beyond this point'. the message is, if you are coming to visit your kids, focus on them, not some mundane business.<BR/><BR/>While the request forAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com