#ZBHAFQ

Raah-e-Sukoon: A Digital Detox road trip

2019-07-12T03:07:00.000-07:00

Raah-e-Sukoon: A Digital Detox road trip

Let’s embark on a journey with the self, to a small village in Himachal, appreciating the charismatic nature and forming connections that shall last.

Let’s give ourselves a break from the monotony and go on digital detoxification, giving our brain and eyes much needed rest. Imagine waking up to serenity, seeing the sunrise and soaking at the moment, laying on the grass reading a book, making tiaras with wildflowers amidst the sounds of the gushing river, capturing the beauty with eyes and storing those in the heart.

Digital detoxification not only relaxes the mind but calms the nerves too, having a lasting impact on the well being of body and mind.

Join us to experience the magic of disconnecting digitally and connecting with the real world.
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Itinerary :

Day 1.
Arrive and Check-In. Breakfast. Take a stroll around the town’s main street and Village. Easy uphill acclimatisation walk.

Day 2.
Breakfast, trek to meadows and camping. Lunch at the campsite. Enjoy the silence and sound of water streams. Jungle walk, bonfire and Dinner.

Day 3.
Post breakfast, group leaves for Delhi.

Trip cost is Rs. 8000 per person (3Days and 2 Nights)

Includes:
Stay
All meals at the location
Transfers Delhi to Delhi.
Any expenditure during transit to be shared equally.
____________________

Note:
You won’t be allowed to use your mobile phones during the entire trip. We will have a basic common phone to stay in touch with family with limited usage.

Event link: https://www.facebook.com/yourtripendshere/

Ushering 2017 in Bairat

2017-02-15T23:27:00.000-08:00

Being a lifestyle journalist and after having covered New Year parties for a couple of years, I had a clear idea about how Delhiites would be celebrating their new year. So, when the Royal Mavericks (Delhi Royal Enfield Riders Community) organised a motorcycle ride to get away from the city’s madness and to have a peaceful new year, I counted myself in. This was a new year’s evening away from screens and rich in memories.

30th Dec 2016

I reached the meeting point at 8am near Ambience Mall, Gurgaon.

A fellow rider, Tenze, who owns a handicraft store in Majnu Ka Tila distributed prayer flags to each rider. After riding to many hill stations and neighbouring countries, I had never bought one for myself. Tensing and I became friends the moment he saw a sticker of Tour of Tibet on my Royal Enfield motorcycle from 2014. Tensing is from Tibet.

The ride was flagged off around 9am. I was in full riding gear and could spot people from Delhi going out of the Capital in their cars while waving at us. Honestly, it was a good feeling. On second thoughts, I was smiling to myself, thinking that they are the same people who take a turn without flashing an indicator! (Wink wink)

It was cold, but for a rider it is the most enjoyable when the cold wind and fog hits the visor. The temperature didn’t seem to go up and the craving for hot cup of tea increased by every kilometer covered. The group stopped for breakfast at Haldiram on the way. I ordered chole bhature which added to the craving for tea. After the breakfast, we started the journey again and were told that we will stop again for a chai break. After around 50kms, the group took a pit stop at a small dhaba which reminded me of days when I used to take a Uttar Pradesh transport bus whenever I used to go home. These busses stop at such dhabas for dinner. We parked our bikes and everyone at the dhaba started to admire the beauty (read Royal Enfield).

After this short break we again started and rode with a normal speed of 60 to 70km/hr till the time we stopped for regrouping before taking a turn off the highway. While we crossed small houses, we spotted cattle, villagers and ladies carrying wood logs on her head. It brought back memories from my hometown in UP. Little kids who were playing on the roads were excited to see us and couldn’t resist shying away from thump and riders passing by their village.

While riding in those streets, I also saw a gypsy family with babies sleeping in their wooden carts, on the roadside. It was like an unending road inside the village and by that time GPS also gave up. The mobile network faded away slowly and I landed up in a resort with 10 Mongolian tents.

I was so hungry that I parked my bike close to the kitchen and jumped on to the food. The dining area was made up of mud and shade was made from hay. The lunch was served in earthen plates (reusable). The basic aloo ki sabzi, dal, tawa roti and rice was something I was happy to gorge on, after covering 250kms on my ride.

These are beer bottles in the walls which light up when when sun rises.

The basic aloo ki sabzi, dal, tawa roti and rice was something I was happy to gorge on, after covering 250kms on my ride

Beer bottle decoration.

After lunch I went around talking to the resort staff and walked around it. Found a charpoy in a nearby farm which was facing the sun. I rested there for some time as the sun set. Then, I moved towards the tent which was allotted to me and I saw two huge quechua tents also in the farm. We set them up for our self.

The staff was super excited as we were their first Indian guests and second otherwise. The moment I entered the tent, I thought wow! Spotless linen with a clean bathroom is a traveller’s dream.

However, since the whole set up was completely new, few things were yet to be fixed. I realised that they would love our feedback and I was sure the list was going to be long. I changed my clothes by the time the bonfire was set up. The resort also allowed me to park my motorcycle next to my tent.

A “sound sleep” remedy for every biker.

I could hear music and imagine the scene outside while I got ready for the evening. Everyone gathered around the fire, and a round of introductions and serving a fresh batch of snacks was now underway. We also had a family accompanying us, who travelled in a car with their two #supercute dogs: Twinkle and Khushi. (it is a pet friendly resort). They also made friends with locals dogs in the resort.

It was the birthday of one of the riders from our group. The resort guys made arrangements to make her day memorable and arranged a lovely cake in the middle of nowhere. Everyone ended the day by singing songs and having a sumptuous dinner.

When I returned to my bed to retire for the day, the icing on the cake was the careful selection of the mattress (I did checked with the resort about from where to buy one of these). I slept like a baby.

31st Dec 2016

Last day of the year and surprisingly, I woke up early around 8am. I dragged myself outside to the bonfire area and hot tea on the cold morning was ready. I almost had five cups before I realised I was one of the few who woke up early to the birds chirping. I went to the kitchen and borrowed a cycle from the chef. Then, I decided to cycle around the village while carefully learning the route back to the resort. It looked easy to me when I started, but, on the rocky terrain, I realised that it was much easy when I crossed the same road propelled by petrol than my legs. I rushed to the same gypsy family I spotted on my way to the resort last afternoon. I parked the cycle and I was surrounded by little kids. I also overheard a lady on phone saying ki angrez aya hai.

I smiled and went up to the gypsy family, sat down with them telling them that this is my first time in rural Rajasthan. I already eyed a brass hukkah yesterday and requested if they can prepare one for me to taste. I sat around with them. The lady of the house came to me and asked bhaiya kuch khaoge (would you like something to eat?). I wanted to say a big yes but agreed on tea. Saw her taking money out from her blouse and giving to the kid to get a packet of milk. I asked her why she would spend money on me as I could see that it was the only currency note she had. She smiled and started making tea on her very unique chulha which is used to cast iron, their source of income.

I took pictures and heard their stories about how this is the best life they are having. Kids around me were still fascinated with a angrej (foreigner ) traveller sitting with them. I had a cup of tea and returned to the resort with the best memory of the trip. In the resort everyone was sitting around the bonfire area, trying to come to peace with this lovely morning. The dogs were running around farms and playing as if it was the best morning for them.

After the breakfast we all asked the tractor owner who came to supply the water if we could to take his tractor for a spin. He was more excited than us and it also gave me a chance to drive a tractor for the first time in my life.

Around 2pm, we all rode out to see the village. This village, Bairat, has a historical importance. It was called Virat Nagar during Kaurva regime. It still has ancient temples and Archeological survey of india protected sites.

Long straight road like the one in #deathvalley, #california. #RoyalMavericks #Roadtrip #Travel #Bikeride #Motorcycle #rajasthan #royalenfield #2017 #zbhafq #bairat

A post shared by Zabeeh (@zabeehafaque) on Jan 2, 2017 at 7:51pm PST

Most haunting was Bijak Ki Pahadi. It was a site with huge rocks - as big as a giant truck. After trekking to the top, I saw a huge rock resting on the top of the hill and there was a temple underneath. The rock looked like a bottle of whiskey to some.

When I climbed a little more, I saw historical ruins which tell us that the brick formation started around 3500 yrs back along with a ruined structure which local people said was used to calculate time in olden days.

The rocks have an unusual carving which I assumed was done by wind but couldn’t find an exact reason for the facial and skull shapes. If you would see the valley from the top, these rocks give a sense of a valley which is full of skulls!

We returned to the resort after the sunset and saw a gathering on the road which looked like a wedding procession. The villagers told us it was due to the retirement of someone fin the village.

We reached the resort and everyone was in a mood to party as it was the last evening of 2016. It was for the first time that nobody in the group bothered to checked their phones, leaving them behind in their tents. People danced around the bonfire and some stayed awake till 4am.

This is how my first morning looked like on 1st Jan 2017.

First morning of 2017. Three cheers to #royalmavericks #Travel #BikeRide #Rajasthan #roadtrip #brotherhood #royalenfield #newyear #2017

A post shared by Zabeeh (@zabeehafaque) on Jan 1, 2017 at 2:05am PST

This was our day to return to Delhi. We had breakfast and everyone checked their bike and we kickstarted our journey. I was given responsibility to lead the ride for the first time. I was nervous and apprehensive about the sense of responsibility. Royal Mavericks has a policy that they will not leave behind any rider in any situation. It was a comfortable ride back to Delhi. This was the Sunday evening when everyone was returning to the Capital, so while the traffic was troublesome, we all reached safely.

My legs did pain for few days due to the cycling, and there were hundreds of unread messages (of the same boring new year) pending on my phone. I still have a few unread, and would keep them that way. May be this ride marked the perfect closure for 2016 and a great introduction to 2017.

Ride safe- ride united.

Road trip to Tosh, Himachal Pradesh

2016-10-31T05:21:00.004-07:00

Road trip to Tosh, Himachal Pradesh

20161022::: Himachal Pradesh

A small village Tosh that bears the unique fragrance of hash in its air is located at the far end of Parvati valley in Himachal Pradesh. The valley is wrapped around the confluence of rivers Parvati and Beas. This is a must visit place if you seek peace.

Photo: Zabeeh Afaque/www.zabeehafaque.com

Badshah photoshoot in Delhi.

2016-09-02T05:46:00.002-07:00

Manori in the lap of Arabian Sea

2016-03-12T04:15:00.000-08:00

Manori, Maharashtra :: 27 February 2016.

Manori is a 15-minute ferry ride away from Marve Beach in Malad, Mumbai.

It remains one of the most popular getaway destinations for tourists and locals in Mumbaikars. The destination is ideal for couples who want to stay away from the crowded city and traffic.

These couples drive down or take a ferry, and the increasing number of guest houses popping up on the island make sure there are enough options for accommodation. Surprisingly, the resorts and hotels provide accommodation on hourly basis, which clearly fulfills the requirements of most young couples...

Photo: Zabeeh Afaque / www.zabeehafaque.com.

Riding On The Roof Of The World- Tour of Tibet

2015-03-02T23:46:00.003-08:00

Riding On The Roof Of The World

Traversing the magnificent terrain of Tibet for a two-week, 2,380-km bike expedition is a trip of a lifetime

text and photos by Zabeeh Afaque

Published copy in Hindustan Times Brunch

I love my job. And I’m not a freak. Because my job lets me get on a motorbike to explore new terrain at least once every year. So yes. I’m sorry if you’re jealous, people, but I love my job.

A few months ago, I rode to Ladakh in a group of 100 bikers, part of the Himalayan Odyssey organised by a bike manufacturer. But this time, I was offered a ride in another league altogether – to Tibet, the roof of the world.

Fifteen of us were set to bike 2,380 kilometres over 14 days, at an average altitude of 4,500 metres above sea level, from Kathmandu in Nepal to Lhasa in Tibet and onwards, negotiating the tough Himalayas and romancing the landscape. We knew it wouldn’t be an easy ride. But no rider worth his bike would ever give up this opportunity. And so off I went.

A stiff start

The first day in Kathmandu was dedicated to two things – eating all sorts of momos at Momo Hut in Thamel, and getting our bikes checked at Kathmandu Handle Bar – the bike repairing station-cum-bar. We spent the day hanging out, soaking in the spirit of Kathmandu (quite literally in the evening, drinking at the iconic Handle Bar & Restaurant), and mentally preparing ourselves for the tough fortnight ahead.

But nothing could have prepared us for the hurdle nature had set up for us the next day, as we set out for The Last Resort in Kodari, our accommodation for the night. Our route was damaged by a massive landslide, so we had no option but to ride off-road through slushy and slippery terrain. The bikes refused to move, no matter how much power we pumped into them. After just 14 kilometres of the 30-km off-road ride, we had to put our bikes on a truck and then trek to the plains to take a bus to The Last Resort. Just to get to the next motorable road took us six hours, trekking the upward, almost unwalkable path.

Transiting into Tibet

The thing about riding into Tibet is that you can never do it alone. The only visas available for riders are group visas which makes this tour of Tibet a great chance for bikers to explore its magnificent terrain. The visa process takes a long time. The bikers are checked, so are the papers of the machines and the people riding them. But once that’s done, you are free to explore Tibet and its spectacular canvas of sights. Rugged and dry at some places, lush green at others, the landscape looks like paintings that can’t be translated into words.
The roads inside Tibet are wonderful – smooth as silk and almost empty. The ride was so calm in some places that you almost ran the risk of dozing off on the bike. On the ride from Nyalam to Tingri, two things stood out for me – riding into the sparkling waterfalls that lash the roads, and the sudden sight of the desert plains of the Tibetan plateau with the proud Shisha Pangma mountain as its backdrop.

Sometimes, while riding through the plateau, the sun shone into your face so hard that you were blinded by its light, and yet it was like riding into a world of golden mystery.
With glimpses of Mount Everest on this stretch, we continued to the mighty mountain pass of Gyatso La and rode through the India-China Friendship highway on our way to Lhasa.

Knowing vs seeing

Think of Tibet and you immediately conjure up images of yaks, large tracts of barren land, dragon dance shows, lamas and monasteries. Tibet is that. But it is also much more. And possibly no other place in Tibet embodies that as well as Lhasa. For the outsider, the first stop in the Tibetan capital ought to be the Potala Palace, the original home of the Dalai Lama that is now a museum and a world heritage site, followed by a host of other monasteries that proudly uphold the Tibetan culture.

But there’s also a very distinct modern side to Lhasa. Huge malls, youngsters in international fashion labels, sports bikes, large cars – Tibet could be any country in the world. Interestingly, the sports bikes from leading international brands are apparently made in China. The same is true for cars – Mercedes, Aston Martin and the like. The fakes aren’t restricted to the roads. I discovered this from the mechanic at the bike workshop. His iPhone 5S turned out to be a Chinese version of the Apple phone. The fake iPhone 6 was available even before the official launch of the real thing.

This makes Lhasa a great place to shop for branded clothes, sportswear and of course Tibetan kitsch. And, as improbable as it may seem, the nightlife in Tibet is better than in most Indian cities. There are clubs so vibrant and huge that they could put some Delhi clubs to shame. For an entry fee of `1,800, you can pick up 24 bottles of beer, and then the party just moves from table to table and grows bigger over the night.

SURVIVAL KIT

What to carry: Besides biking gear, a full face helmet is a must. Take warm thermals, jackets, a cap, dark glasses and a hydration pack.

Food: The food in Tibet is very bland and even the momos are unlike Indian ones. Yak meat is nice, but obviously not for vegetarians. Carry chocolate and energy bars to keep you going. The local chocolates and biscuits aren’t bad either. Sometimes, all you get is fruit.

For more information, log on to: www.royalenfield.com/rides/events/touroftibet

Contact : zabeehafaque [@] gmail [dot] com

Follow @zabeehafaque on Twitter

More images from the trip on instagram @zabeehafaque

Photo Feed on Tumblr

#RoyalEnfield #RoyalMavericks #TourOFTibet #TOT2014 #Biker

Standstill on move

2014-02-14T23:33:00.000-08:00

While I was travelling to US for a photo travel feature, I was amazed to see and feel the snow. This was my first time in conversation with snowflakes. We don't get snow back home during winters, only at high altitude close to mountains. I took this picture when I stepped out after lunch and remembered someone saying at the table that "Snowflakes are one of nature's most fragile things, but just look what they do when they stick together". I kept walking and thinking that when we keep moving, life comes to a standstill for some!! #philadelphia #thefork

Photo: Zabeeh Afaque/www.zabeehafaque.com

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ALL PHOTOS ARE COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL AND MAY NOT BE USED WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.

NO GOING BACK

2013-12-15T08:49:00.001-08:00

NO GOING BACK, a set on Flickr.

20131215:::New Delhi

The Supreme Court of India reinstated the Criminality of Homosexuality in India on December 11th, 2013. Indian gay-rights activists take part in a "GLOBAL DAY OF RAGE - NO GOING BACK" protesting against Supreme Court (SC) judgement of Criminalising homosexuality in the country under section 377 of IPC, rules gay sex is illegal and up to ten years of imprisonment at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, India.

Photo: Zabeeh Afaque/ www.zabeehafaque.com

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ALL PHOTOS ARE COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL AND MAY NOT BE USED WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.

Nation Salute Ride by Royal Mavericks

2013-08-19T01:59:00.001-07:00

200130815_Nation Salute Ride by Royal Mavericks#001, a photo by Zabeeh_India on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
15 August 2013
To mark the 66th Independence Day, Nation Salute Ride was organised by Royal Mavericks- Royal Enfield Bikers Group New Delhi. The ride, which kick-started with the National Anthem, saw 47 Royal Enfield riders ride on the streets of the city with the national flag.

From Sukhdev Vihar to HIGHWAY GREENS, a dhaba on National Highway 2 (Agra Highway), the passionate riders celebrated the true spirit of the day in their own way. The ride culminated with a breakfast of Haryanvi parathas and kadak chai. After the flag hoisting, riders sang the National Anthem and rode back to Delhi, spreading the message of peace and harmony en-route.

For more pictures of the ride: Slideshow

Photo: / Zabeeh Afaque

Short Video (Best watched in 1080pHD):

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Copyright infringement by dubeat.com

2013-03-14T02:57:00.001-07:00

My image used in the above article at dubeat.com I found my image cropped and published with the above mentioned article without my permission and without paying any fees.

Photo Printed in HT City: HT City, Hindustan Times

Photo on my Flickr

The image have been taken from my Flickr page. I have a Creative Commons:All Right reserved license on these photos. The image on Flickr was duly watermarked and a registered copyright in my name, The same image is on my blog which has a copyright notice on the top.

I don't understand if in India it makes a difference to copyright images or not?

Is it a lot of pain in dropping an email to the photographer and ask for his permission?

One month on...8pm in Delhi

2013-01-16T05:13:00.001-08:00

One month on...8PM in Delhi, a photo by ~@faque~ on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
16 Jan 2013 ::: New Delhi

Even after one month of the brutal gangrape in the city, where a 23 year old girl was raped by six men in a moving bus that crossed four police patrolling vans, things have not changed much.

While in some places, police barricades have been put up and strict patrolling is being carried out through out the night, at others cops are still enjoying winter with a bonfire, evading their duty. Even though policemen have now been posted at major dim lit streets and lanes of the city, rules are being openly flouted. One can still find cars, buses and even government vehicles with black films. A girl still has to ignore sexist comments from 'Amar Colony boys', peeping from a car with loud music or the ones indulging in the day-to-day car-o-bar at places like East of Kailash and Lajpat Nagar in South Delhi. Though I am sure, the scene is no better elsewhere too.

I agree when the administration justifies that these measure will bring down the crime rate in the city but I'm still intrigued to think that is it all that we can do? May be yes, but I still believe there is a long way for us to justify the 'Bharat Maata' tag for our nation!

Photo: / Zabeeh Afaque

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Accounts of my colleagues :

Subhash Nagar scare

It may be one of the most popular stretches in West Delhi, but on this evening, there was only one policeman to be seen around Pacific Mall, situated between Subhash Nagar and Tagore Garden metro stations. Many young people hang out here, but the stretch is still secluded and the street lights don’t work. Of late, I did see some police barriers crop up but there were none on this day. I walked carefully and alert, remembering how at this very place on Christmas last year, a friend of mine was attacked by three men who even had a knife. Thankfully, he got away that day, but the danger of the dark still looms large.
Aditi Caroli

No auto to Dwarka

For the past four years, I’ve been taking an auto from office to Dwarka, and every day has been an ordeal. Most auto drivers zoom off without a word when I say Dwarka and others shake their head and say, ‘Dwariiiika nahi jaa paayenge.’ If at all I expected the situation to change in the past one month, it hasn’t. I don’t even remember the last time I took a metered auto. Close to 8pm, when I stepped out of office, most autos refused to ferry me, and one even asked me to take the metro! Half an hour later, I found one that agreed to take me for a reasonable sum (a very rare occurrence), but not by the meter.
Neha Sharma

He wanted to thrash me

As I drove from KG Marg to the Mandi House roundabout, a big white sedan kept coming in my direction aggressively, as if the driver wanted to bang into my car. When I glared, the driver started making obscene gestures. I ignored, but he didn’t back down and kept trying to bump into my car. Finally I rolled down my window and shouted at him. Seeing me do that, he made gestures to show he wanted to thrash me for daring to shout. I tried taking down the number but couldn’t, owing to traffic movement. Before I knew it, he turned to a different road.
Namya Sinha

Harassed in Noida

Last night, as I was walking down the exit steps of the Noida City Centre metro station, auto drivers had already crowded the steps and began hounding me, constantly asking me where I wanted to go. I was forced to raise my voice and tell them to stop troubling me. Next, I had to shout my way out of the traffic chaos that was caused by the shared autos that lined up the pedestrian path, making it impossible for commuters to cross. When I told one of the drivers that they’re parking in the wrong lane and I’d call the police, he laughed in my face and told me to go ahead.
Aditi Pant

Car-o-bar control in Kishangarh

At around 8.45 pm on my way back to Chhatarpur, where I live, hunger had me stop the car at one of the kathi roll vendors located in Kishangarh near Vasant Kunj. I was pretty surprised to find out that the seller had been asked by police to shut shop before 9pm; they would take away all his stuff if he didn’t, the scared man told me. It was presumably the practice of in-car drinking or ‘car-o-bar’ in the area that had caused such a step. A good initiative, I thought, but this also means no cheap street food after 9pm.
Aakriti Sawhney

Badarpur: verbal rape every day

I alight at the Badarpur Metro station, near the Faridabad-Delhi border, which is closest to my house. The lights go off in the subway, leaving me frozen in pitch dark. Empty DTC buses and trucks are lined up under the criss-crossing lines of the overhead Metro track and the Agra-Mathura road flyover. The drivers and helpers in these vehicles, shabby and drunk, ogle and ask me to take a lift. They even break alcohol bottles to attract attention. The men pee, flashing privates. Idhar aa jaa, khush kar dunga, one said yesterday. No PCR vans, no cops. I continue to get raped verbally, every day.
Debasmita Ghosh

Connaught Place of perverts

Though I usually avail of the office cab facility for a drop-off after late hours, I decided to walk down to Rajiv Chowk to take the metro to Vasant Kunj yesterday. Apart from being stared at and often having to hear men singing silly songs to attract attention, a man walking in my direction shifted to my side suddenly, in order to brush against me and touch inappropriately. I, however, stepped away in time and angrily shouted at him, “Seedha chalna seekh lo.” Just another day, another such incident. No checks, no help!
Shruti Dargan

In Gurgaon, Pink autos a no-go

Since the road from Sikandarpur Metro station to DLF phase II has no street lights, I got out at MG Road metro station to take an auto. The autowallahs asked me for R60 for a 1 km distance. I set out to find the new pink autos launched for women last week. Except for their colour, they were no different from the regular ones. When I asked the driver if there was a panic button for safety or GPS (as claimed by reports), he retorted, Yeh kya hota hai? Govt ne sirf hamein yahan parking ki jagah di hai. Baki sab kharcha hum khud karte hain." A cop closeby said she had no clue either.
Chetna Dua

The other side Heights of paranoia!

After the gangrape, girls have started to see every guy in the same light, as someone looking to harass them in a public place. I got a taste of their paranoia while on my way back home yesterday. Metro trains are massively crowded during office hours, and standing untouched is almost impossible. As my train stopped at Rajiv Chowk and the sea of office-goers pushed me back and forth on their way, I accidently bumped into a girl’s back. She turned back instantly and started shouting, accusing me of misbehaving and having no manners. I politely apologised and told her it was an accident and I had no evil intentions, but no one seemed to believe me. I stood frozen for the rest of my journey.
Samarth Goyal

Read in print: Hindustan Times- HT City

5th Year of being Gay

2012-11-27T07:26:00.001-08:00

5th Year of being Gay, a photo by ~@faque~ on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
25 November 2012::: New Delhi
Delhi Queer Pride Turns 5 on 25th November 2012, the march started from Barakhamba road towards Jantar Mantar. Activist, Students, expats and from every walk of life was seen supporting and celebrating 5th anniversary. Lots of new placards were spotted during the parade. New logo was also revealed for Queer Pride Parade at Jantar mantar, New Delhi, India

For more images: Image Gallery

Photo: / Zabeeh Afaque

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All the images are copyright protected, please do not use without the written consent of the photographer.

Eid that posed !!

2012-09-12T00:44:00.001-07:00

Eid that posed !!, a photo by ~@faque~ on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Etah ::: 20 August 2012

Memories of my childhood spent in my hometown are something I'll always cherish — be it celebrating Eid with friends or the sleepless nights due to our family's love for pets. We had 17 pups at home when I was in high school. So this year, when I went back home to celebrate Eid-ul-fitr with my family, I was ready to embrace those sweet memories. And, even though I missed my friends as most of them too, had shifted elsewhere, I enjoyed the company of Billu — our dear pet cat, who loves posing!

Photo: Zabeeh Afaque

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Out of the pipe

2012-08-29T05:22:00.001-07:00

Out of the pipe, a photo by ~@faque~ on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Etah ::: 19 August 2012
The sewage of a public urinal caught my eyes in Etah, Uttar Pradesh
Photo: Zabeeh Afaque

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Well lit darkness

2012-04-23T05:20:00.001-07:00

Well lit darkness, a photo by ~@faque~ on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
18 March 2012

Well lit darkness

Have you ever thought that all that shines bright may also have a darker side to it? Well, I understood it just right when I made my way to Mahipalpur, just adjacent to the fancy IGI Airport. The other day, while going to Gurgaon, I noticed these very intriguing neon light sign boards of hotels. To put it in simple words - a colourful mosaic of illumination. On a second thought, this place looked familiar. Yes, it looked just like the streets of Shanghai! As seen in film over years…and before I went abroad, this was what the West meant to me…On moving over the bouquet of lights, I found many dim lit tea kiosks, which also act like mile stones to a destination unknown . A security guard at one of the hotel informed that the place sees a frequent escort business as guests fly from elsewhere and are pampered with softness. In Delhi, every place has a story to narrate!

Photo: Zabeeh Afaque/ www.zabeehafaque.com

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New watch dog...

2012-03-22T05:41:00.001-07:00

New watch dog..., a photo by ~@faque~ on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
NEW DELHI::: 19 March 2012

A Delhi based graffiti artist who prefers to be known as Yantr, painted an interesting facial expression with a pair of eyes and lips near the Defence Colony flyover in South Delhi. The lesser known secret of this flyover is that its also a spot for pick-up girls and hookers post 12am. One may think that these activities are not being checked but here's a new watch dog!

Photo: Zabeeh Afaque

RIDING ON LIGHTS

2012-03-10T04:38:00.001-08:00

RIDING ON LIGHTS, a photo by ~@faque~ on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
New Delhi ::: 18 December 2010

14th season of Great India Rock Festival 2010, the only rock festival which is organized at such a big scale in New Delhi. International bands like Enslaved, Undying inc., Purified in blood, Meshuggah participated in the grounds of Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Audience went crazy over weed, smoke, music and lights.

Slide Show
Photo: Zabeeh Afaque/ www.zabeehafaque.com

Taj Mahal by Zabeeh Afaque 2

2012-03-07T23:48:00.001-08:00

Taj Mahal by Zabeeh Afaque 2, a photo by ~@faque~ on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
AGRA:::2011
A view white Marble mausoleum located Taj Mahal located in Agra (Uttar Pradesh), India

Photo : Zabeeh Afaque
Location: Agra, Uttar Pradesh , India

Amit Saigal Graffiti at Hauz Khas

2012-02-19T23:28:00.003-08:00

Graffiti at Hauz Khas _02, a photo by ~@faque~ on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
NEW DELHI ::: 26 JANUARY 2012

Colorful Street graffiti at Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi , painted by unknown artists. Street art graffiti is illegal in India in the public interest to provide for the prevention of defacement of property but in Hauz Khas this art all over.

Photo by: Zabeeh Afaque/www.zabeehafaque.com

Graffiti at Hauz Khas

2012-02-19T23:28:00.001-08:00

Graffiti at Hauz Khas _01, a photo by ~@faque~ on Flickr.

Metallica, No Show

2011-10-29T04:42:00.001-07:00

Metallica, No Show_23, a photo by ~@faque~ on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Gurgaon (India) :::: 28th October::

In yet another shameful setback for music fans, the much-awaited Metallica concert was cancelled minutes before it was scheduled to start on Friday night. A horde of fans, many of whom had arrived at Leisure Valley, the venue
of the concert, from three in the afternoon, and were waiting for the band to come, were told at 6.30pm that the concert had been cancelled due to a technical problems. Interestingly, the band, which was present at a press conference at 6 in the evening, did not mention this development to the media. About an hour after the announcement, assembled fans were enraged and began breaking boards and throwing bottles on stage.
There were scenes of complete chaos, as angry fans, who had come from all across India, were seen dismantling technical equipment like woofers and speakers. security personnel then formed a human chain on the stage and prevented anyone from climbing onto it and doing any further damage.

A particular group of fans were seen taking their shirts off and burning them to express their anger. Fans began shouting anti-Metallica slogans and vented anger against the organisers DNA networks. After almost two and a half hours, the police arrived to clear the venue of the fans, who were then seen outside sitting in groups, visibly angry, depressed and disappointed. A statement issued by the organisers said that the event has been postponed to the same time on Saturday. ‎Karuna prithvi, media manager for DNA networks, the organisers of the show says, there is some technical problem which was beyond repair, hence we have cancelled the concert''.

However, some sources said that in light of the crowd's behavior the band had decided not to perform in the Capital at all. Denjoy, who came especially from Srinagar, said, "We won't let Metallica come here again. It was a total disrespect towards the fans. the band should have come on the stage and told us about the event being postponed at least." Mukesh, from Delhi, said, "It's a total embarrassment. I have nothing to say." However, there were some who were pragmatic. Vishal Dadlani, Music director, who was present at the venue, said, "This is rock n roll.
anything can happen." Manoviraj Khosla, fashion designer, who was also present there, said, "I'm such a big fan of the band. I would be able to come any day".

Talking about previous incidents where big events in Delhi have been cancelled, Sujit Jain, MD, Netsurf Entertainment who had organized Akon's concert in Gurgaon earlier this year says, " It's a huge disappointment for the fans that such an epic concert is being postponed. And it reflects badly on our nation's organizing capabilities, that it was due to poor security and technical arrangements. I am surprised to see that fans could get stage access
so easy just minutes before the concert was to kickstart. Moreover Gurgaon is very friendly when it comes to concerts, as we did Akon there and the local administration was very cooperative and efficient.

I am hopeful the concert does happen in Gurgaon for all the 25000 fans."

Photo by Zabeeh Afaque

Social networking, my foot

2011-10-21T06:22:00.001-07:00

Social networking, my foot 1, a photo by ~@faque~ on Flickr.

FLY TO FIGHT

2011-09-16T02:50:00.001-07:00

FLY TO FIGHT, a photo by ~@faque~ on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
NEW DELHI:::15 AUGUST 2011

A campaign was organized by few young Delhites FLY TO FIGHT - KITE FESTIVAL, where many youngsters came together to celebrate independence day at Deep Park, near Hauz Khas, New Delhi . They flew kites together while the Delhi Drum Circle performed.

Press Coverage: HT City, Hindustan Times

PHOTO: Zabeeh Afaque

Facebook

Linkedin

Blessings all over !!

2011-08-16T06:48:00.001-07:00

JAMA MASJID _ DELHI_2, a photo by ~@faque~ on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
New Delhi::: 09 August 2011
Blue sky over main gate of jama masjid during ramzaan.
Photo: Zabeeh Afaque

Besharmi Morcha

2011-07-31T09:00:00.001-07:00

SLUT WALK 2011 NEW DELHI_36, a photo by ~@faque~ on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
NEW DELHI – 31 JULY 2011

Slut Walk Delhi 2011 arthaat Besharmi Morcha , was hosted today in the Capital. The protest was of a ‘different kind’. It was initiated by a some college students, who drew the attention of the common man by copying the west. And thanks to the social networking site facebook , they were able to gather more and more supporters from all age groups. Until today, however, it looked like the ultimate aim was to have as many members possible and garner the maximum number of “likes”. Trying hard to spread the word, some young moderators of the event page , instead of educating those with a differing opinion, didn’t mind getting abusive. Slowly, the idea turned into a campaign and the private sector
(UTV Bindaas and Radio Mirchi in this case) too, cashed on the event by sponsoring this protest.

Finally, the D-day arrived and I’d repeat myself: It was different. The photographers and media persons outnumbered the participants. Maybe because they wanted to see if the Slut Walk here, will copy the west in all its aspects. Sadly, no skin show! Spoon-fed slogans and speeches from youngsters, was all one could hear. Performances by Delhi Drum Circle and Asmita theatre group , however, brought the required relief.

I attended the event, and saw it all, but a string of questions kept running through my mind, faster than the sweat drops running down my body on this hot day. I wondered how many of those who attended, would now have a different mindset, a different pair of eyeballs through which a woman would not be scanned as always. And then I thought, ‘All the slogan-shouting that happened today is no news to an eve teaser or a rapist, they know it all, so will this eventually help?’ And if the answer to this is “No”, then what?

But then I’m not all that negative. I’m glad at least someone initiated a thought. A thought that may not be able to achieve everything that it intended, but at least it created some buzz, involving a group of youngsters and sponsors (for whom it was a business for outdoor publicity) and media (for which it was just the news).

Now, comfortably seated at my workstation and looking at the images I shot (the crowd, their placards, those questions), I’m left wondering again….what next?

In newspaper:
HT City Page1
HT City Page 6

Photo: Zabeeh Afaque
Location: Jantar Mantar, New Delhi , India