Varanasi

by Sauvik Acharyya | Jul 9, 2024

Varanasi

The venerated and much-revered pilgrimage center of Hindus – Varanasi – is one of the oldest living cities in the world that rests on the banks of the river Ganga in Uttar Pradesh, India. Also known as Kashi and Banaras, Varanasi is the cultural capital of India and was the seat of learning in the past. Legend has it that Lord Shiva himself established this holy city and now it is the ‘abode of Lord Shiva’.

Varanasi is so intertwined with divinity that people believe that to die here is to attain salvation. Thousands visit the city to spend the last days of their life. The importance of Varanasi in Hindu religion is not only because of the great number of holy temples or the spirituality of the place but also because of the important role it has played in defining and shaping Hindu culture. For generations, the people of Varanasi have been exponents and perpetuators of great music, literature, art and craft and also Vedic philosophy.

Varanasi is a place of many attractions of different genres. The great ancient temples here are a subject of devotion and reverence. The mesmerizing ghats of Varanasi are known throughout the world and have been portrayed in many movies and documentaries. It is a place where you can immerse into the heart and soul of Hindu beliefs and culture and have real-life experiences in the doctrine of Hindu religion.

Add the lush greenery around the banks of the rivers in Varanasi to the air of spirituality, you have an enchanting city!

The following photographs portray the life in this city that never sleeps.

Valley in 24 Hours

by Sauvik Acharyya | Jul 9, 2024

Valley in 24 Hours

“The place is more beautiful than the heaven and is the benefactor of supreme bliss and happiness. It seems to me that I am taking a bath in the lake of nectar here.”
– Kalidas

Kashmir is perhaps, to possess an authentic account of its history from the very earliest period. This past account of the valley, its culture and traditions, rise and fall of various Kingdoms, victory and defeats of the people have been noted carefully, yet critically by the sons of its soil. True it is, that the Kashmiriat literature is very rich in information about Kashmir.

The modern state of Jammu and Kashmir covered an area of 86024 square miles (prior to 1947) extending from 32deg 78′ to 36deg 58′ N and from 73deg 27′ to 80deg 72′ E. The entire state included, beside the Jammu region, Ladakh, Gilgit, Hunza, Nagar, Punial, and Yasin. The tiny state of Chitral, located towards the north-western side of Gilgit, used to pay tribute to Kashmir ruler. It was due to the untiring efforts of Maharaja Gulab Singh Ji ( the founder of Dogra Hindu dynasty in Kashmir) that the State took its present shape and form in the 2nd half of the 19th century.

The beauty and the salubrious climate of the valley was known even from the ancient times. The mythological traditions supported fully by the research of geologists confirm that the valley originally was a huge lake called “Satisar”, ( the land of goddess Sati, consort of Lord Shiva ) and its waters were blocked near Baramulla (ancient Varahmulla). In the words of Sir Francis Young Husband, “The huge lake must have been twice the length and three times the width of the lake of Geneva, completely encircled by snowy mountains as high, and higher than Mount Blank, while in the immediately following glacial period, mighty glaciers came wending down to the Sindh, Lidder, and other valleys even to the edge of water.”

Kashmir’s greatest historian Kalhan writes about his native land : “It is a country where the sun shines mildly, being the place created by Rishi Kashyap, for his glory – big and lofty houses, learning, Saffron, icy cool water and grapes rare in Heaven are plentiful here – Kailash is the best place in the three worlds (Tri-lok), Himalayas the best place in Kailash, and Kashmir the best place in Himalayas.”

Sir Walter Lawrence writes, “The valley is an emerald set in pearls; a land of lakes, clear streams, green turf, magnificent trees and mighty mountains where the air is cool, and the water sweet, where men are strong, and women vie with the soil in fruitfulness.” He further writes that the valley contains everything which should make life enjoyable. There is sport varied and excellent, there is scenery for the artist and the layman, mountain for the mountaineer, flower for the Botanist, a vast field for the Geologist and magnificent ruins for the archaeologist.
Following images are just a look in a short trip of 24 hours there.

No pellet, no bullet, no bloodshed. But a pale silence before the storm, searching in the valley in 24 hours. As the day and night passed by, I saw the land of God is too lifeless and still. Here is the short journey into the Kasmir just before the state of affairs took place!

The Land of Colours

by Sauvik Acharyya | Jul 9, 2024

The Land of Colours

An inviting spread of colors, packets of deflated balloons which is waiting to be filled with water, plastic water guns, and sweets of all imaginable kinds lined up in shops are a common sight every year as we approach Holi, the Festival of Colours. The festival is celebrated in every corner of the country, but the way of celebration varies throughout. Holi is often used in symbolism related to India. India is a land of infinite cultures and races coexisting peacefully in an ecosystem. Holi, with its myriads of colors, represents this ecosystem and each color denotes a different culture prevalent in India and the mixture of all these make Holi and the country what they are.

The most boisterous of Hindu festivals, Holi waves goodbye to winter and welcomes in spring in a rainbow of colours. In India it’s predominantly celebrated in the north of the country, and is quite rightly known as the Festival of Colours for the raucous events on Holi’s final day, when children and adults take to the streets throwing colourful gulal (powder) over each other. Dyed water is shot from syringes, thrown from buckets and poured into balloons, which are then tossed at people.

Barsana and Vrindavan, places in Uttar Pradesh, India lie in the area popularly known as Vraj, which consists of four towns, Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandgaon, and Barsana. Popularly played with synthetic colors, Holi is celebrated in a considerably different, and contrasting, ways in Barsana and Vrindavan.

Barsana is famous for its Lathmar Holi. As it might be apparent from the name, it is celebrated with thick sticks or Laths. The women from Barsana hit the men from Nandgaon village and they are given shields to protect themselves.

On the other hand, in the neighboring village of Vrindavan Holi is played by showering flower petals along with dry and wet colors. The week-long celebration takes place in front of and around the Banke Bihari temple. The sculpture of Banke Bihari is placed outside the temple for the people believe Lord Krishna himself plays Holi with them.
Images are a simple story of my two day journey to these places.

A Handmade Story

by Sauvik Acharyya | Jul 9, 2024

A Handmade Story

In a sunny afternoon, thousands of people are listening the speech of their favorite leader on the stage. He is in fire, he is dispersed. He wants to change the world, asking join hands with his ideology with political agenda. But his hands are tied up. He speaks in half way without using the line of action, looks gloomy, naturally. You are in the auditor’s chair, want something more or less.

How do you feel? How do you react without using your hands?

The situation and the questions are really funny, and apparently no purpose!

Right. But everything is not right, thus, people are get poised when they use both verbal and body parts, specially hands during communication. Everyone “talks” with their hands at least sometimes. Some people’s hand-talking or gesturing matches their message well. Other people have a tendency to make overly large gestures that can be distracting. And still others don’t use their hands much at all. No matter which camp you fall into, it’s important to pay attention to your hand gestures while you are communicating or making a talk or play or work. You may be unconsciously communicating in ways you don’t realize.

These photographs are not to show hands of working of a hard times, or silence. Still, the series of these images has something to represent of an unsaid piece of story.

Let’s read.

The Drummers

by Sauvik Acharyya | Jul 9, 2024

The Drummers

Durga Puja, a grand festival of Bengalees, is not complete without the rhythm of Dhak — a large iconic drum with rhythmic patterns are distinct from other percussion instruments. Dhakis (Drummers) are traditional drummers who play the dhak (drum) during Hindu festivals, primarily in Eastern India and Bangladesh. Drum beats are an integral part of the five-day-long annual festivities associated with Durga Puja.

Bengali communities outside Bengal get dhakis from the state during Durga Puja. About 750 dhakis from Malda, Midnapore, Birbhum and Murshidabad districts, travel across India to perform. Not all of them find work and some return empty handed. About 600 of them are brought in by various pandals, which provide them food and lodging. Others hang around on sidewalks to get hired. They are generally landless farmers and play the dhak in their villages when they have time to spare. Freelancer dhakis earn an average of Rs. 4000 for the season from organisers and around Rs. 3000 in tips.

The dhakis routinely suffer police harassment in order to reach the capital with their large dhaks, even after checking with metal detectors for guns and bombs, the police do not allow them to go unless they bribe them. The return journey is more hazardous because they have money in their pockets.

They spend the festive season away for their family and friends. Relatives eagerly wait for their return with some earnings. But unfortunately most of them come back with very little. They need to pay for food, travel and other expenses. Here is the story of the drummers outside Bengal during Durga Puja.