MAKING OF A DEVI

Radhe Das is a sixty five years man has started making goddess at the age of seven. He has learned the art from his uncle. Radhe is the only earning member of his family. He is so poor that he cannot hire an extra person to help him. So he works alone in his workshop at Kumartuli.

LIVING STATUE OF A SCULPTOR

CHOKH DAN

Creating the eye of a Devi is the most critical and challenging thing. In Hindu mythology it has a name called “Chokh Dan” (Eye Creation).  Normally in the night of Mahalaya, before seven days of Puja all potters used to complete this “Chokh Dan” procedure.

ETERNAL TOUCH

Narayan Pal is one of the potters at Kumartuli, Siliguri, West Bengal.

DEVI CREATING DEVI

Anima Roy got inspiration from his husband seven years ago when her husband took her to Kumartuli. She is the only woman potter in this community. Now she and her husband works together to support their growing family.

PAINTING THE FACE

PUJA – I

Some ritual culture at Gangasagar Mela.

PROVAT AROTI (Morning Puja)

Early morning puja at Varanasi on the Ganges.

PUJA -II

DIWALI

Diwali or Deepaawali is one of the most glamorous and important festivals celebrated in India.

IN MEMORY OF FOREFATHERS

He came all the way from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, to Varasnasi to bring homage to his deceiced ancesters, like so many Hindu from all over India, believing that after death, the soul given to the Goddes Ganga, remains in the river of life and death.

PUJA – III

Ahuti is an oblation or offering. It can also refer to a sacrifice. However, when conducting with a Yagnya it is customary to have a havan or fire sacrifice. The fire is ceremoniously lit, symbolic of inviting Agni the fire God and the mantras are chanted an offering of ghee or havan samagri (a mixture of herbs, flower and ghee) is offered to the fire at the end of the mantra.

I saw this woman giving YAGNYAHUTI in Gangasagar Mela in Sagar Dwip, West Bengal. Instead of havan samagri she was throwing those cotton balls with ghee from that container.

SONDHA AROTI ( Evening Puja)

Evening Puja at Varanasi on the Ganges.

Gangasagar Mela, West Bengal.

OLD WOMAN

In a local market at Darjeeling District, West Bengal.

TANTRIK

Charak festival at Siliguri, West Bengal.

MOTHER

Gangasagar Mela, West Bengal.

A TALK FROM HEART TO HEART

We had a warmhearted talk for one hour and then he blessed me …
A monk in Rumtek Monastery.

PANDIT

A Pandit (Priest) from Maharashtra to Gangasagar Mela, West Bengal.

I’m not your mother !

A old woman in Gangasagar Mela, West Bengal.

I’ve started photography at age of twelve from inspired by my father. Traveling the world as a photographer for National Geographic Magazine was the dream from my childhood. I feel capturing images that people enjoy to look at and are impressed with has not only inspired me to take up photography seriously but to give people a reason to care was the main intension for me.

Being a senior executive of a pharmaceutical company in Kolkata, I find very little time to enjoy my childhood dream of photojournalism which is now enriched with more than 20 years of experience in this field of art. This has however not stopped my works from being published in many magazines, newspapers and websites including online publications of various humanitarian, educational religious organizations.

Recently I became a member of National Geographic Stock Photography and Getty Images.

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