Recent Articles
Gandhi’s Worldly Remains
This small collection of personal belongings is preserved at Gandhi Smriti, the memorial established in the former Birla House in New Delhi. Identified by the museum as Gandhi’s “Worldly Remains”, the display contains only a handful of practical objects: his walking staff, reading glasses and case, pocket watch, gardening sickle, pumice stone, and simple eating […]
An Offering to the Ganga
This is a very special photograph of Erin during our time in Varanasi. We were along the banks of the Ganga, the river that is at the heart of the city and one of the most sacred places in Hinduism. Here, Erin is surrounded by children selling small offerings of flowers and candles that we […]
The Ghats of Varanasi
We took this photograph while traveling by boat along the Ganges River in Varanasi. From the water, the famous ghats stretched along the riverbank in a continuous procession of temples, shrines, stone steps, and centuries-old buildings. Boats drifted nearby while pilgrims gathered at the river’s edge, priests conducted religious rituals, and families went about their […]
Buland Darwaza Fatehpur
While visiting northern India, we visited Fatehpur Sikri, the magnificent city built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in the late sixteenth century. Although the city served as the capital of the Mughal Empire for only about fifteen years, it remains one of the finest surviving examples of Mughal architecture. Standing together in front of the […]
World Peace Gong
During our visit to Gandhi Smriti in New Delhi, one monument immediately drew my attention. Surrounded by the flags of nations from around the world and the symbols of many of the world’s major religions, the World Peace Gong stands as an international symbol of peace, cooperation, and mutual respect. The World Peace Gong was […]
The Golden Temple
On both of my travels to India, I made the journey to the Golden Temple. Also known as Harmandir Sahib, this is the holiest site in the Sikh religion, and visiting it is one of the memorable spiritual and cultural experiences of my time in India. Visiting the temple at night was especially unforgettable. The illuminated gold structure […]
The Ganga
On the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi, the water is sacred. It is used for bathing, washing and for rituals that have been practiced for thousands of years. But to understand this river, you have to see that it is not just water, it is life, belief, and continuity flowing together. To Hindus, the […]
Taj Mahal
There are famous landmarks all around the globe. Sometimes I will go out of my way to visit them, and sometimes I will not. On my first trip to India, I did not feel the need to make the journey to the Taj Mahal. But on my second trip, Erin and I traveled to Agra […]
Lotus Temple
The Lotus Temple in Delhi is one of those places that has stayed with me long after I visited it. This is a place where silence surrounds you. In a city as vibrant, crowded and sensory-rich as Delhi, the stillness of this temple was powerful. Completed in 1986, the Lotus Temple is a Baha’i House […]
Ghandi Smriti
More than a decade ago, on my second trip to India, I visited one of the most memorable places I have ever stood: Gandhi Smriti, the site where Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated. What made this visit so moving were the footprints. Set into the stone pathway, I walked where Gandhi took his final steps on […]
