Kolkata (Calcutta)
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Durga Puja decorations at South City Mall in Kolkata, India. South City is the largest mall in East India. Durga Puja is the biggest festival in Kolkata and West Bengal.
Durga Puja idols sits in piles at Babughat in Kolkata, India. The idols are statues of Hindu gods and goddesses that are brought to the Hooghly RIver and immersed, and then immediately pulled out to prevent pollution.
Hindus bathe en masse in the Hooghly River in observance of Mahalaya, a tribute to deceased relatives, Kolkata, India.
Muslims pray during Eid al-Adha on Red Road in Kolkata, India. Eid al-Adha is the most important Muslim holiday, and Red Road is considered perhaps the most auspicious site in Kolkata. More than 50,000 people pray here en masse. Editorial note: These are the only images captured of this event in 2012 by a foreign photographer.
Nighttime view of Lakshmi idols being immersed in the Hooghly Rver - and then immediately taken out to avoid pollution - during Lakshmi Puja, Kolkata, India.
Hindus perform puja (prayers) on the banks of the Hooghy River in observance of Mahalaya, a tribute to deceased relatives, Kolkata, India.
Workers string limes and peppers, which are used as a sort of good luck charm, at a shop in Kalighat, Kolata, India
Workers take a siesta on a sidewalk in Kumartoli, Kolkata, India. Sleeping in public is very common in Kolkata.
Women from a family dance at Babughat during the Durga Puja festival, Kolkata, India. They're about to immerse the family's idol of the Goddess Durga into the nearby Hooghly River.
A woman makes an offering to Kushmanda, one of the nine Nava-Durgas (forms of the Goddess Durga) during the Durga Puja festival, at a temple near Barabazar on the Ganges River, Kolkata, India.
A man receives blessings along the Hooghly River, Kolkata, India. In the background is a large leather factory.
Colored lights warm up a neigborhood in Lake Gardens, Kolkata, India, during the epic Durga Puja festival.
In a poignant scene, an elderly man operates a simple, hand-cranked amusement ride for toddlers near Kumartoli Ghat, Kolkata, India.
A girl in a blue headscarf stands over a group of Muslims praying during Eid al-Adha on Red Road in Kolkata, India. Eid al-Adha is the most important Muslim holiday, and Red Road is considered perhaps the most auspicious site in Kolkata. More than 50,000 people pray here en masse. Editorial note: These are the only images captured of this event in 2012 by a foreign photographer.
A stray dog sleeps in front of flower garlands at the Howrah Flower Market, reputed to be the largest flower market in Asia. Kolkata, India.
Interior of a large and elaborate pandal (temporary temple of sorts) to the Goddess Durga during the Durga Puja festival, Gariahat, Kolkata, India. There are 2,500 pandals in Kolkata during the epic festival. In 2012 this was the winning pandal.
Durga Puja idols are painted and dressed at a workshop in Kumartoli (Potter's Town), Kolkata, India.
Muslims pray during Eid al-Adha on Red Road in Kolkata, India. Eid al-Adha is the most important Muslim holiday, and Red Road is considered perhaps the most auspicious site in Kolkata. More than 50,000 people pray here en masse. Editorial note: These are the only images captured of this event in 2012 by a foreign photographer.
Illuminated LED animatronic figures on display in Gariahat, Kolkata, India, during the Durga Puja festival.
Muslims pray during Eid al-Adha on Red Road in Kolkata, India. Eid al-Adha is the most important Muslim holiday, and Red Road is considered perhaps the most auspicious site in Kolkata. More than 50,000 people pray here en masse. Editorial note: These are the only images captured of this event in 2012 by a foreign photographer.
Idols are pulled from the Hooghly River with a crane during the Durga Puja festival, Kolkata, India. The idols are immersed by residents during the festival, but policy changes say they have to be pulled out immediately afterwards to avoid polluting the river.
Hindu families perform rituals at Armenian Ghat on the Hooghly River at the beginning of the Durga Puja Festival, Kolkata, India.
A family in the back of a truck brings an idol of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi to Babughat in Kolkata, India, to immerse it in the Hooghly River. Lakshmi Puja, as it's called, is celebrated after Durga Puja, the biggest festival in Kolkata.
Muslims pray during Eid al-Adha on Red Road in Kolkata, India. Eid al-Adha is the most important Muslim holiday, and Red Road is considered perhaps the most auspicious site in Kolkata. More than 50,000 people pray here en masse. Editorial note: These are the only images captured of this event in 2012 by a foreign photographer.
Beautiful organic flowers and vegetables at the Howrah Flower Market, commonly referred to as the largest flower market in Asia. Near Howrah Bridge along the Hooghly River, Kolkata, India.
A boy takes the heads off of religious idols at Babughat in Kolkata, India, during the Durga Puja festival. The idols are immersed into the nearby Hooghy River during the festival, but are immediately taken out by the government to avoid polluting the river.
Muslims pray during Eid al-Adha on Red Road in Kolkata, India. Eid al-Adha is the most important Muslim holiday, and Red Road is considered perhaps the most auspicious site in Kolkata. More than 50,000 people pray here en masse. Editorial note: These are the only images captured of this event in 2012 by a foreign photographer.
Mixed spices, fruits, and vegetables are offered during prayers at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata, India.
A man performs rituals for the beginning of the Durga Puja festival at Armenian Ghat near Howrah Bridge, Kolkata, India.
Interior of a large and elaborate pandal (temporary temple of sorts) to the Goddess Durga during the Durga Puja festival, Gariahat, Kolkata, India. There are 2,500 pandals in Kolkata during the epic festival. In 2012 this was the winning pandal.
Lakshmi remains after a Durga Puja pandal is disassembled in Bowbazar, Kolkata, India. She will be the subject of her own puja and immersion - Lakshmi Puja.
Hindu families perform rituals at Armenian Ghat on the Hooghly River at the beginning of the Durga Puja Festival, Kolkata, India.
A man in his flower shop at the Howrah Flower Market, Kolkata, India. His dogs are covered in yellow flower pollen.
Hindus perform prayers on the Hooghly River during Mahalaya, a tribute to deceased relatives, Sovabazar Ghat, Kolkata, India.
A boy takes the heads off of religious idols at Babughat in Kolkata, India, during the Durga Puja festival. The idols are immersed into the nearby Hooghy River during the festival, but are immediately taken out by the government to avoid polluting the river.
Muslims pray during Eid al-Adha on Red Road in Kolkata, India. Eid al-Adha is the most important Muslim holiday, and Red Road is considered perhaps the most auspicious site in Kolkata. More than 50,000 people pray here en masse. Editorial note: These are the only images captured of this event in 2012 by a foreign photographer.
Durga Puja idols sits in piles at Babughat in Kolkata, India. The idols are statues of Hindu gods and goddesses that are brought to the Hooghly RIver and immersed, and then immediately pulled out to prevent pollution.
A Durga Puja pandal in the Lord's More neighborhood of Kolkata, India, near the Lake Gardens Railway Station.
A man carries marigold garlands in a basket on his head, early morning near Howrah Bridge, Kolkata, India.
Workers at the intensely crowded indoor section of the Howrah flower market in Kolkata, India. It's reputed to be the largest in Asia.
Hindu families perform puja (prayers) with their Durga idols at Babughat on the Hooghly River, during the Durga Puja festival, Kolkata, India
Workers take an afternoon siesta on a sidewalk in Kumartoli, Kolkata, India. Next to them are Durga Puja idols.
