Hinduism
Loading…
Enormous fig tree at Ajaypal, Rajasthan, India. This is the single largest tree within 20 kilometers of Pushkar, with a crown diameter of 150 feet. It's home to langur monkeys. Fig trees are sacred to Hindus and are commonly found at temples. This temple site dates to the 7th century.
Women Hindu pilgrims with shaved heads pray during Ganga Aarti along the Ganges River, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India
Durga idols are recovered from the Hooghly River after being immersed during the Durga Puja idols, Babughat, Kolkata, India. The idols are recovered to avoid polluting the river. They're made from straw and river clay, but the paints are not eco-friendly.
A woman prostrates herself every few steps as an exercise in religious asceticism, Assi Ghat, Varanasi, India
A woman prays on the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.
Durga idols are recovered from the Hooghly River after being immersed during the Durga Puja idols, Babughat, Kolkata, India. The idols are recovered to avoid polluting the river. They're made from straw and river clay, but the paints are not eco-friendly.
Hindu families immerse idols of the goddess Durga in the Hooghly River at night during the Durga Puja festival, Babughat, Kolkata, India
A woman prays on the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.
Dusk at the 7th century Ajaypal temple site (Shiva temple), near Pushkar, Rajasthan, India. Taken on the "Black Moon" or "Shiva Moon."
A Hindu boy with cerebral palsy begs during the Muslim Eid al-Adha festival, Red Road, Madian, Kolkata, India. I have the only photos taken by a foreigner of this most important day to Muslims at the most auspicious site in Kolkata for both 2012 and 2013.
Enormous fig tree at Ajaypal, Rajasthan, India. This is the single largest tree within 20 kilometers of Pushkar, with a crown diameter of 150 feet. It's home to langur monkeys. Fig trees are sacred to Hindus and are commonly found at temples. This temple site dates to the 7th century.
A Hindu boy with cerebral palsy begs during the Muslim Eid al-Adha festival, Red Road, Madian, Kolkata, India. I have the only photos taken by a foreigner of this most important day to Muslims at the most auspicious site in Kolkata for both 2012 and 2013.
Small marble icon of a cow sits on a field of plastic in the Pushkar municipal dumping ground (landfill), Pushkar, Rajasthan, India
Pilgrims visit the 7th century Ajaypal temple (Shiva temple), near Pushkar, Rajasthan, India. Taken on the "Black Moon" or "Shiva Moon."
Main ghat at Badi Bhasti, where pilgrims come to bathe in sacred Pushkar Lake, Pushkar, Rajasthan, India
Ganga Aarti, a nightly prayer to the Ganges River that takes place at Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India
A man feeds langur monkeys on Tuesday, Pushkar, Rajasthan, India. Tuesday and Saturday are considered days for charity by Hindus, and many people feed monkeys on these days. It causes countless monkeys to become killed or injured by traffic.
Ladies pray at sunset along the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.
A girl releases a candle onto the Ganges River during Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India
A fascinating image, an idol of Kali is covered at night so she can go to sleep. Bangali Tola, Varanasi, India.
LED board with a patriotic military motif on display during the Durga Puja festival, Jodhpur Park, Kolkata, India
Durga idols are recovered from the Hooghly River after being immersed during the Durga Puja idols, Babughat, Kolkata, India. The idols are recovered to avoid polluting the river. They're made from straw and river clay, but the paints are not eco-friendly.
A boy plays drums during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.
Offerings on the banks of the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.
Ganga Aarti, a nightly prayer to the Ganges River that takes place at Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India
A woman prays on the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.
Offerings on the banks of the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.
A toddler girl prays to her family's idol of the goddess Durga along the Hooghly River during the Durga Puja festival, Babughat, Kolkata, India
A woman prays at sunset along the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.
Hindus prepare roti at a day of observance for deceased relatives (not Mahalaya, something else, but I don't remember the name), Pushkar, Rajasthan, India
A very Hindu scene - Ganesh idol, incense, conch shell, oil lamp, and flowers - all devices of Hindu prayer, Budha Pushkar, Rajasthan, India
Durga idols are recovered from the Hooghly River after being immersed during the Durga Puja idols, Babughat, Kolkata, India. The idols are recovered to avoid polluting the river. They're made from straw and river clay, but the paints are not eco-friendly.
Painted ceramic heads from Hindu idols are reclaimed after being pulled from the Hooghly River, Babughat, Kolkata, India. The idols are immersed in the river during the Durga Puja festival, then immediately pulled out by workers to avoid polluting the river.
A Hindu boy with cerebral palsy begs during the Muslim Eid al-Adha festival, Red Road, Madian, Kolkata, India. I have the only photos taken by a foreigner of this most important day to Muslims at the most auspicious site in Kolkata for both 2012 and 2013.
Children march past a Domino's Pizza during the Durga Puja festival, Newmarket, Taltala, Kolkata, India
A woman prostrates herself every few steps as an exercise in religious asceticism, Assi Ghat, Varanasi, India
Ganga Aarti, a nightly prayer to the Ganges River that takes place at Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India
Hindu man with his head shaved to honor deceased relatives during Mahalaya, Babughat, Kolkata, India
A crowd travels down a street to view a pandal during the Durga Puja festival, Dhakuria, Kolkata, India
Ganga Aarti, a nightly prayer to the Ganges River that takes place at Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India
A wonderful image that says a lot. In a tiny hilltop temple near Bhagwanpura village, Rajasthan, India, Hindu faithful have laid a single peapod (mutter) along rocks in a devotional arrangement. Mutter is an important crop grown directly outside the temple. Such integration of the simple objects of daily life into religious devotions is common in India.
Ladies pray in the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.
Offerings on the banks of the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.
Durga idols are recovered from the Hooghly River after being immersed during the Durga Puja idols, Babughat, Kolkata, India. The idols are recovered to avoid polluting the river. They're made from straw and river clay, but the paints are not eco-friendly.
A boy dresses up to make money by having his photo taken by Indian photographers during Mahalaya, Kolkata, India
A huge idol of Kali is carried during the Kali Murti festival, Varanasi, India. It will be marched into the streets where thousands of people will work themselves into a frenzy with drumming and fireworks.
Durga idols are recovered from the Hooghly River after being immersed during the Durga Puja idols, Babughat, Kolkata, India. The idols are recovered to avoid polluting the river. They're made from straw and river clay, but the paints are not eco-friendly.
Durga idols are immersed in the Hooghly River during the Durga Puja festival, Babughat, Kolkata, India
A Durga idol is immersed in the Hooghly River at night during the Durga Puja festival, Babughat, Kolkata, India
Women touch the shaved head of a boy with a swastika painted on it during prayers along the Ganges River, Varanasi, India
Hindu families immerse idols of the goddess Durga in the Hooghly River at night during the Durga Puja festival, Babughat, Kolkata, India
