Jim Ankan Deka | Music, Photography and More

Dasara festival is the main attraction of Mysore and Mysore Palace or the Amba Vilas Palace. 2013 Dasara is the 403rd edition of the annual royal festive gala event. Dasara is a 10-day festival. The last day, known as Vijayadashami is considered the most auspicious day of the event. After Taj Mahal, Mysore Palace is the most visited tourist spots in India. Below are few photos of the palace, the Shweta Varahaswamy temple and surroundings and the city at night. Corner and day view of the Mysore Palace at the time of Dasara Festival (Photo - Jim Ankan Deka) | 2013 A bronze lion statue in front of Shweta Varahaswamy temple at Mysore Palace (Photo - Jim Ankan Deka) | 2013 The entrance door of Shweta Varahaswamy temple at Mysore Palace (Photo - Jim Ankan Deka) | 2013 Side view of Mysore Palace, India (Photo - Jim Ankan Deka) | 2013 Main entrance of Mysore Palace, Karnataka, India (Photo - Jim Ankan Deka) | 2013 Mysore city at night on the occasion of Dasara fest...

Last September, when we visited Dehradun for a short documentary, first thing we noticed was primates. On the streets, at homes, near the water streams, in the jungles around and even in the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. Here are few moments from our visit to Malsi Deer Park and Sahastradhara falls in Dehradun. An Indian monkey (bandar) at Malsi Deer Park (photo - Jim Ankan Deka) An Indian monkey (bandar) at Malsi Deer Park (photo - Jim Ankan Deka) An Indian monkey (bandar) and her child in Sahastradhara falls in Dehradun (photo- Jim Ankan Deka) An Indian monkey (bandar) at Malsi Deer Park, Dehradun (photo - Jim Ankan Deka) An Indian monkey (bandar) at Malsi Deer Park (photo - Jim Ankan Deka)

It was long before I met Suchethan when I first wrote the song EastWards. I made a small video with photos of Nagaland (a North-East-Indian state) and needed background music. I am a fan of American guitarist Eric Johnson and the music for the video popped in my mind after listening to Eric Johnson and Jeff Skunk Baxter's acoustic duet . EastWards - Jim Ankan Deka and Suchethan Rangaswamy Later, when I met Carnatic classical vocalist and veena player Suchethan Rangaswamy from Bangalore, I thought of collaborating with him for my 2012 album Timeless . We made quite a few tracks before I selected EastWards for Timeless. As I already had the guitar part ready, I made him listen to it and asked him if he could strum his veena for the song. He showed his 20 years of devotion and magic as he went on playing the Indian classical instrument along with acoustic rock music. According to people who have heard the song - EastWards sounds like Indian Blues - whatever that means. But yup...