August 15th at Karuna Vihar is always a festival of color and a celebration of ability and self-reliance. I love seeing the children perform – each year the older ones get a little more sophisticated and the little ones a bit older and more confident.

It’s a benchmark ceremonial day – we measure our progress and theirs as we raise the flag and count our blessings. For me, it’s also a photographic challenge: Edmund set the bar two years ago when he took an amazing series of pictures at our Independence Day event, many of which made it into the 2007 calendar and I now feel I have to at least try to match his work.

Last year I was happy with my results (some made it into calendar 2008) , but this year – well, not so much. We moved into a new building just a few days ago and the verandah isn’t big enough for the kids to perform on. They had to do their acts on the lawn, in full morning sun, and the shadows were brutal, and, and, and . . . excuses! I know.

But I like this one of Sakshi and Sana. And by next year, maybe, Insha’Allah, we’ll be in our own building and I will be a more talented, versatile photographer!