The Importance Of Being Indian

Here is an assortment of the most interesting portraits I took during my journey in India. In my opinion, these people represent the country and its culture with much dignity and colorful splendor.

As I write this,  I experience a deep sense of gratitude for these people were my greatest teachers during my travels. They all in their own way and through their own unintentional example, made me realize something important about the purpose of living, and gave me a new sense of perspective that it has enriched my life.

They were beautiful children, parented or orphans, caring mothers, shop owners and beggars, street vendors, holy men, market workers and others.

They all contributed to make my experience memorable and unforgettable just by being there. I read in a book once that it is important to not only conceptualize our breakthroughs but also experience them. Breakthroughs are pretty much defined by a sudden flash of clarity or even perhaps a momentary lapse -not of reason but intuitive knowledge. The restrictions we once felt are dissolved and we suddenly taste a new form of understanding that fills us with a palpable sense of freedom.

I had many breakthroughs during my journey, some of them propitiated by mainly being present and observing, but most of them by my encounters with these incredibly humble and loving people who filled my heart with immense joy, and taught me some invaluable lessons on acceptance and living wholly.

Enjoy and thanks for stopping by… ♥

And I had to include this picture of me with this AMAZING little being. He was one of the happiest kids i’ve ever met ♥

ALL IMAGES copyright Karina Heneghan.