Yesterday evening I heard music blaring outside my home. Nothing unusual about that, except this was traditional Hindu music, which I doubt the youth of today plays whilst cruising down the street.
I went outside to have a look and saw this coming from around the corner:
I was told it was a Hindu holy day – that of Ganesh Chaturthi – and this year the procession (which apparently occurs every year) was taking place via my street. How random!
I live in a quiet, residential road, and the last thing you’d expect to see is a herd of Hindus marching up the road in front of a giant statue of Ganesh.
Of course I used the opportunity to take some pictures 
A few rituals took place in front of the statue, including breaking open a coconut.
The food below is known as Prasad, which is eaten after first being offered to a deity. It’s believed to have the deity’s blessing within it.
The police obviously weren’t too keen on the music.
More coconut rituals
Someone from the group gave a piece to the onlookers below who were rather bemused by the whole thing. I heard the woman say ‘erm thanks, but what do I do with it?’.
The procession turned onto the high street, much to the annoyance of the honking cars who had to wait for it to pass.
One could easily be mistaken for thinking some of the pictures were taken in India. I almost felt like I was in India!
This woman amused me with her old school camera. It’s odd how only a few years ago most people had film cameras like that.
Finally, the procession turned into the temple. The gates were opened a few moments later to let everyone in.
It was very cool having a lively procession unexpectedly pass through my street. It highlights just how diverse London is, with all kinds of cultural and religious festivals taking place publicly on a fairly regular basis.
They should definitely do this more often!
It’s true what all the film nerds say – there’s nothing quite like film, but then there’s nothing quite like doing it manual.
This is the first roll I’ve shot on a Nikon FM.  It’s so much more fun having a sense of control over the camera and having to think more about the technical aspects than shooting blindly, which is often what I do – especially with the 350D.
Anyway – all negscans, Delta 400 (first time I’ve used this), 24mm lens (mmm).
The first shot on the roll.. is of moi
The first shot I took!
Remember Nigel (or Angel Nigel as he likes to be known)? I bumped into him yet again near work.
Once again he was keen to show me his serving skills
.. and some footie
.. and his air guitar skills, wonderfully improvised using his racquet. (Yes, focusing is off.)
He was actually removed by a security guard from a nearby area which I had to cross as I left work. He remembered me from Wimbledon and started walking with me. I got a lot of funny stares from City workers as I walked down the road with him.
Exposure wasn’t the best on those shots.
Whoops:
East London is great for graffiti. I can’t agree more with this one.
I work in the Square Mile which is a clean, sterile place full of people in suits where there’s no graffiti or rubbish on the streets - then you walk 5 minutes up the road into Shoreditch and you find things like this.
Minutes after I took this pic I had one very memorable experience.. in Ponti’s, of all places. It’s great how a seemingly meaningless picture to one person, can mean so much to another. Said experience shall remain undisclosed 
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I should work on alignment a little more. Then again I was on the phone when I took the above which isn’t bad at all I think, but which explains the incorrect exposure.  It’s tough composing, focusing, changing the speed, setting the aperture, and clicking all with one hand!Â
There was a horse show in Broadgate Circle close to where I work.
This is an Andalusian horse, a show-horse that has apparently won a number of contests in Europe.
Yummy contrast
Apparently this walk is really difficult for a horse to master, and we were ‘witnessing something rare’ according to the trainer.
Two of my lovely colleagues
This was really an experimental roll – I wasn’t expecting anything great from it, but I think the Nikon EM is going into retirement now.Â
Manual all the way baby.
