a cluster of Samanea saman trees

This ancient cluster of rain trees occupies a big triangular area right besides Kalghatgi road in Saraswatpur locality. Within the cluster is a govt school which is completely concealed by the trees. Decades ago Saraswatpur was 80% vegetation and 20% buildings & roads. There were tiled-roof bungalows completely surrounded by trees and plants. Presently, a number of bungalows have made way to apartments and muti-storied buildings, and in the process vegetation has vanished. I just hope this cluster of Samanea saman trees are around for many more years if not decades.

Rain tree flowers are unique with needle like petals.

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Rain clouds over Dharwad on May-17th

Spectacular cloud and rain scenes captured by DJI Mini 2 on May 17th afternoon.

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Hafiz Bale Khan & Rais Bale Khan

Last week, on Basava Jayanti, I was looking for Basavanna vachana on YouTube. I stumbled on a video featuring Kalabeda Kolabeda sung by Hafiz Bale Khan. The vachana is sung beautifully. Listening to the song I felt the singer had to be a Kannadiga. I looked further into the channel, then Googled the singer's name and found that Ustad Hafiz Bale Khan is song of Sitar Nawaz Bale Khan of Dharwad Gharana. Ustad Bale Khan's other son is Ustad Rais Bale Khan. Both brothers have several vachanas and other devotional songs to their credit. Also they've sung "Nanu Badavi Aata Badava" a composition by Dr. Da Ra Bendre.

In case you wish to check out their renditions, below are the links to their channels:

Hafiz Bale Khan and Rais Bale Khan.
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City Central Library hours and holidays

Dharwad City Central Library working hours & holidays.

ಗ್ರಂಥಾಲಯ ಸಮಯ ಮತ್ತು ರಜೆ ದಿನಗಳ ಮಾಹಿತಿ
ಗ್ರಂಥಾಲಯ ಸಮಯ: ಮಂಗಳವಾರ ದಿಂದ ರವಿವಾದದ ವರೆಗೆ ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ 8.00 ರಿಂದ ರಾತ್ರಿ 8.00 ಗಂಟೆಯವರೆಗೆ
ಪ್ರತಿ ಸೋಮವಾರ ಹಾಗೂ ತಿಂಗಳ 2ನೇ ಮಂಗಳವಾರ ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ 10.00 ರಿಂದ ಸಂಜೆ 5.30 ಗಂಟೆಯವರೆಗೆ
ಗ್ರಂಥಾಲಯ ರಜಾ ದಿನಗಳು
ತಿಂಗಳ 4ನೇ ಶನಿವಾರ ಹಾಗೂ ಸರ್ಕಾರಿ ರಜೆ ದಿನಗಳಂದು ಗ್ರಂಥಾಲಯ ರಜೆ ಇರುತ್ತದೆ. ಹಾಗೂ ಪ್ರತಿ ಸೋಮವಾರ ಹಾಗೂ ತಿಂಗಳ 2ನೇ ಮಂಗಳವಾರ ಎರವಲು ಸೇವೆ (ಪುಸ್ತಕ ವಿತರಣೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಬದಲಾವಣೆ) ಇರುವುದಿಲ್ಲಾ.

Information on library hours and holidays
Library Timings: Tuesday to Sunday 8.00 am to 8.00 pm
Every Monday and 2nd Tuesday of the month from 10.00 am to 5.30 pm
Library holidays
The library will be closed on 4th Saturday of the month and government holidays. And every Monday and 2nd Tuesday of the month there is no borrowing service (book delivery and exchange).

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Red Whiskered Bulbul

A bulbul couple decided to raise it's babies in our home. In the first week of April the bulbul couple built a nest in our utility area, on the clothesline pipe. We tied a foot wide basket under it as a safety catch. Soon after the nest was ready, eggs were laid and one of the bulbuls would remain in the nest most of the day, keeping the eggs warm.  The eggs hatched in the second week, we got one look at the chicks on the 14th. The couple was busy, both taking turns to guard the babies and fetching food. We could hear the feeble chirps of the babies crying for food, they were hungry through out the day.

These pictures were shot on 20th morning..

head turned 180°

Bulbul holding food for the chicks

A few minutes after shooting these pictures I saw the chicks perched on the basket rim. They were ready to leave the nest and face the world outside. Within the next hour both chicks left the nest.. all the best to the little ones!

To see more pictures, click Red Whiskered Bulbuls.

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