Road Rules in India-A Guide

September 30, 2012

Note: The following item was extracted from travel section of UK daily newspaper.


Traveling in India is an almost hallucinatory potion of sound, spectacle and experience. It is frequently heart-rending, sometimes hilarious, mostly exhilarating, always unforgettable – and, when you are on the roads, extremely dangerous.

Most Indian road users observe a version of the Highway Code based on an ancient text. These 12 rules of the Indian road are published for the first time in English.

ARTICLE I
The assumption of immortality is required of all road users.

ARTICLE II
The following precedence must be accorded at all times. In descending order, give way to: cows, elephants, heavy trucks, buses, official cars, camels, light trucks, buffalo, Jeeps, ox-carts, private cars, motorcycles,scooters, auto-rickshaws, pigs, pedal rickshaws, goats, bicycles (goods- carrying), handcarts, bicycles (passenger-carrying), dogs, pedestrians.

ARTICLE III
All wheeled vehicles shall be driven in accordance with the maxim:to slow is to falter, to brake is to fail, to stop is defeat.
This is the Indian drivers’ mantra.

ARTICLE IV
Use of horn (also known as the sonic fender or aural amulet): Cars (IV,1,a-c): Short blasts (urgent) indicate supremacy, ie in clearing dogs, rickshaws and pedestrians from path. Long blasts (desperate) denote supplication, ie to oncoming truck, “I am going too fast to stop, so unless you slow down we shall both die”.

In extreme cases this may be accompanied by flashing of headlights (frantic). Single blast (casual) means “I have seen someone out of India’s 870 million whom I recognize”, “There is a bird in the road (which at this speed could go through my windscreen)” or “I have not blown my horn for several minutes.”

Trucks and buses (IV,2,a): All horn signals have the same meaning, viz, “I have an all-up weight of approximately 12.5 tons and have no intention of stopping, even if I could.”

This signal may be emphasized by the use of headlamps (insouciant). Article IV remains subject to the provision of Order of Precedence in Article II above

ARTICLE V
All manoeuvres, use of horn and evasive action shall be left until the last possible moment.

ARTICLE VI
In the absence of seat belts (which there is), car occupants shall wear garlands of marigolds. These should be kept fastened at all times.

ARTICLE VII
Rights of way: Traffic entering a road from the left has priority. So has traffic from the right, and also traffic in the middle. Lane discipline (VII,1): All Indian traffic at all times and irrespective of direction of travel shall occupy the centre of the road.

ARTICLE VIII
Roundabouts: India has no roundabouts. Apparent traffic islands in the middle of crossroads have no traffic management function. Any other impression should be ignored.

ARTICLE IX
Overtaking is mandatory. Every moving vehicle is required to overtake every other moving vehicle, irrespective of whether it has just overtaken you.Overtaking should only be undertaken in suitable conditions, such as in the face of oncoming traffic, on blind bends, at junctions and in the middle of villages/city centres. No more than two inches should be allowed between your vehicle and the one you are passing – and one inch in the case of bicycles or pedestrians.

ARTICLE X
Nirvana may be obtained through the head-on crash.

ARTICLE XI
Reversing: no longer applicable since no vehicle in India has reverse gear.

ARTICLE XII
The 10th incarnation of God was as an articulated tanker


Faces of India Part 7 – Happy Shiny People- Me, My Friends and I :-)

September 2, 2012

Just wanted to share some of my favorite photos of myself in India, either taken by friend’s, or WITH many of my wonderful friends and “family” there. I don’t enjoy being photographed, so when someone finally DOES get a shot of me, it is always a joyous occasion!

best friends

Each photo has its own lovely story, most of which are narrated throughout the posts on this blog over the years. Hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I enjoy recalling the beautiful moments they hold so dear for me in my life …so many wonderful and dear friends, so many wonderful and dear memories,

So many blessings! 🙂

My Buddies – Devi and Laxmi

udeechi huts naddi 2004 with Dear Abdellahji, His Soul rests in Peace

For Abdellahji’s full story see this link:  http://notinindia2012.wordpress.com/2012/08/29/an-angel-returns-home/

A Day of Fun with the Girls

Me and Devi’s Mom

me and Laxmi’s mother-in-law after puja

big chill -delhi 2007-Shweta, Sunam and Me

Three Ladies-Dear Friends – Reingard, Manju and Me

dinner at aroras’ home

on the way to mussoorie with Natasha

girls day out for lunch

with Einat and Ilsa

happy holi

train to varanassi

On the way up To Neelkant Waterfalls, Rishikesh

…and MANY MORE to check out in the full gallery below

Hope you enjoy seeing these as much as I enjoy recalling the beautiful moments they hold so dear for me in my life …so many wonderful and dear friends, so many wonderful and dear memories, so many blessings!  🙂


Faces of India Part 5 – People at Work-What is Your Job?

August 30, 2012

People at Work in India

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Hope you will enjoy the following photos.  Many of these jobs are found all over the world, but might look a little different or be done a little differently  in India, and some of these jobs are found ONLY in India.  🙂

bicycle rickshaw- Sooooo Indian

Only in India! -change maker for beggars

main ghat veg market varanassi-everything so fresh and beautiful to look at

tailor

Tailor

sugar cookie vendor-found on the streets in the afternoon in time for Tea-the cookies are yummy!

Making a Sweet Drink from Raw Sugar Cane-Very often Long lines at these vendors

snake charmer

snack vendors-so colorful

snack vendor

Sari Merchant – It is Always Men selling these-as well as fabric in the following photo

Fabric Shop – Most women’s clothes are still made to order and one of a kind in India-although ready made and chain stores are beginning to make inroads with the spread of Malls

PLUMBER-let me figure this one out

electrician at work using Indian ingenuity for problem solving on the job

main ghat veg market-varanassi-everything so fresh and beautiful to look at

Cooking my morning porridge at local restaurant

Chai Walla

fruit stand

Fruit Vendor

Provision Shop

yoga instructor


Faces of India Part 4 – Prayers, Pujas and Piety

August 29, 2012

Prayers, Pujas and Piety-The Sanctity of All Life

This post will contain different faces of prayer, sacred ceremonies, piety and prayer in Indian life.  Everything, every event, every action is considered sacred and Divine by Indians.  Even a businessman, after receiving payment, will say a quick prayer of thanks over the bills he has been handed before placing them reverently and gratefully in the cash register.  Here are just several examples of small personal prayers or huge daily public pujas, but all reflecting the sanctity and joy felt by people for all the blessings so lovingly given to them each and every day by God.  I will post several photos full size here, but after the slideshow you will be able to view many more via the gallery.  Just click on a photo to enlarge it.

shiva decorated for festival

 

faces of piety at main ghat puja -varanassi

 

Puja for New Home

 

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Puja at Main Ghat Haridwar

 

faces of piety-Aarti Puja at Shiva ghat, Rishikesh

 

making scared music

 

sacred music concert

 

Flowers Ready for Puja Offerings

family puja

 

 

 

 

 

 


Faces of India Part II-Daily Life

August 26, 2012

Faces of India-Daily Life

Food Line at Ashram

Some of my favorite shots of daily life in India.  Most of the photos are taken in Rishikesh but could be taken most anywhere in India.  Check out the slideshow, as well as the individual shots in the gallery.  enjoy   🙂

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Faces of India-Part I – Along the Ghats in Rishikesh and Varanassi

August 26, 2012

People Along the Ghats in Rishikesh and Varanassi

saddhu

I have begun my preparations for my upcoming trip to India and will be posting on the India Journal Blog from now on. I may from time to time post to my other blogs as well, but will always let you know here if there is something of interest elsewhere. 🙂

For now, I am doing mundane things like arranging visa, vaccinations, going over my travel packing list etc., but even these things bring me closer to dear India and so for me are exciting and full of joy.  I will begin, for the time being, a series of photo posts as going over these photos just fills my day with additional pleasure and decided to share them with you as well.

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I usually photograph and post landscape and Nature photos, but realized that I also have lots of “people pictures” and have decided to share my favorites with you. I will be posting the first ones here for those of you who have not yet found your way to the other blog, but hope you will continue to follow the series there: enjoy the slideshow above or click on the images below to see full size photos. 🙂

SEE YOU IN INDIA!!


Videos and Life Updates – July 31, 2010

July 31, 2010

No, I’m not back in India. Still in Israel with many changes in my life…all beautiful, including new grandchild (number 12) and new love – the soul mate I’ve been waiting 63 years for….life is a true blessing and a true miracle!
Just to let you know that I’ve updated the VIDEO page which you can find in the tab on the upper toolbar. Lots of new videos from India which I’ve concentrated in one place to make it easier to find and enjoy.

Those are the two updates for now….hope to be back here regularly sometime at the beginning of 2011

Namaste
Jane


VARANASSI VIDEOS

December 19, 2009

VARANASSI VIDEOS

I haven’t uploaded all of them yet, but here are two very short glimpses into Varanassi daily life. Just clink on the links to view these in You Tube…and enjoy!

A typical morning on the ghats in Varanassi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvbGGcby5ZU

Varanassi Boat ride

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPKlkJlx8kY

ENJOY!


Varanassi Part V – Last Day in Varanassi and Train Trip Home

November 27, 2009

Varanassi Part V – Last Day in Varanassi

November 16, 2009 is the actual day of these events

Woke up early but it is raining and although I am awake, there is no way I am going out in the rain…perhaps later it will clear up for our day’s outing. As you can see above, dawn, even on a rainy day, is quite beautiful to behold in varanassi along the Ganga. And even on this rainy day, there are “boat people” out for the views!

Apparently however, I was not meant to experience sunrise in Varanassi as this is our last morning here. But I am content. And this is just another confirmation for me of my acceptance with joy and gratitude of ALL experiences, as they are!

I sit and watch the dawning day, seeing a few early morning puja lamps still afloat

Enjoying the quiet of the new day, when –

to my great surprise and wonder – while watching the early morning boat parade – SUNRISE!

So the day began better than anticipated after seeing the rain. We had made arrangements to meet with relatives of R’s friends in rishikesh who live in Varanassi. We had arranged to meet them at 10:30 in the morning and were planning to go silk shopping, stroll the alleys of the old city and then go to see some temples with them. In the meantime, R was already out and we agreed to meet for breakfast at 9:30, which we did.
We met these lovely people at the guesthouse and then began following them, by foot, in the rain, to a local Read the rest of this entry »


Varanassi Part IV – Sunday Morning and Messages

November 25, 2009

Varanassi Part IV – Sunday Morning and Messages

November 15th is the actually date of this day in Varanassi. Remember, you have links to all the varanassi pictures…I will not be posting all the pictures in these posts as it takes too long so you can refer to the different links if you want to view the pics talked about in the posts.

It is now 7:15 AM on our second morning in Varanassi.

India is for me always a lesson in discovering my own true limits and respecting and accepting them. I am definitely NOT a good tourist and there is no way I can enjoy day after day of intensive site seeing. I am NOT a morning person either – as my friend r is – and no matter how badly I would like to already be “out and about” with her at this moment – it is not something I can, in any way, do- unless I want to be dishonest with myself and my own needs. (Actually, I am in a way a morning person, but morning for me is meditation, prayer, pranayama, very slowly doing those things which begin my way in a tranquil and harmonious way – If I rush in the morning-by whole day is off.) I need right now, to do exactly what I am doing. Rising earlier than I really should have anyway – I am sitting on the terrace watching the world on the Ganga go by. (I awoke earlier to go to the toilet – at 5:30 – and the Ganga was just as awake then as it is now, or at night – and the whole river was a sparkling sea of puja lamps. Almost as if someone had strung beads in varying patterns, of brilliant color, all across the Ganga. It was quite magnificent to see)
So I sit and watch the world go by from my lovely balcony, wanting to be down ON the Ganga at sunrise sounds wonderful – but it is not a possibility for me – Perhaps tomorrow if I will have an easier day today.
The sunrise is beautiful (no camera to prove it to you so take my word for it). The birds are innumerable including some hawks which keep circling my balcony. The boats peacefully gliding past below with the happy “morning people” enjoying the view.

Early morning bathers leisurely enjoying a bath before the later throngs of people find their way down for morning ablutions.

The water, from up here on the balcony LOOKS so cool and inviting – much nicer then from close up.
The sounds of morning prayers from the house next door – the sun, already quite warm vising opposite me to the East – reflecting brightly on the water and brilliantly illuminating the entire view.-as if inviting camera or paintbrush to attempt to capture its beauty.
Insistent call of Read the rest of this entry »