Kolkata (Calcutta)
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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.
A ferry on the Hooghly River in Kolkata, India, with a factory in the background belching black smoke from a stack. Kolkata has severe air pollution.
Elaborate LED displays delight crowds visiting pandals during the Durga Puja festival in Gariahat, Kolkata, India.
A large golden chandelier in a pandal (temporary temple of sorts) during the Durga Puja festival, Gariahat, Kolkata, India. At the bottom is the idol of the Goddess Durga.
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.
Workers at the Howrah Flower Market, commonly referred to as the largest flower market in Asia. Near Howrah Bridge along the Hooghly River, Kolkata, India.
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.
Clay Durga Puja idols dry along the railway tracks in Kumartoli (Potter's Town), Kolkata, India. The idols are sculpted from a straw foundation and mud from the Hooghly river, just a few meters away.
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.
Hindu devotees pray during the Durga Puja festival, at a temple near Barabazar on the Ganges River, Kolkata, India.
Workers take an afternoon siesta on a sidewalk in Kumartoli, Kolkata, India. Next to them are Durga Puja idols.
A primitive sailboat passes under Howrah Bridge in Kolkata, India. It's one of the busiest bridges in the world.
A worker hangs garlands at a stall in the Howrah Flower Market, reputed to be the largest in Asia. 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.
Here's something you've almost certainly never seen - an Idol of the Goddess Lakshmi at a pandal inside of a fish market, during the Lakshmi Puja festival, Newmarket, Kolkata, India.
Durga Puja idols are painted and dressed at a workshop in Kumartoli (Potter's Town), Kolkata, India.
Workers string flowers at the Howrah Flower Market, Kolkata, India. It's the largest flower market in Asia.
Fishermen on the Hooghy River in Kolkata India pass a large factory reported to make leather handbags. Search my catalog for leather to see more of this story.
Women string flowers at the Howrah Flower Market, Kolkata, India. It's the largest flower market in Asia.
A ferry passes the ship Oel Victory (from Mumbai) on the Hooghly River near Metiabruz, Kolkata, India.
A man and his sons work at a bamboo processing facility on the Hooghly River near Metiabruz, Kolkata, India.
A rickshaw puller pulls a mother, daughter, and grandma down a backstreet in Bowbazar, Kolkata, India.
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.
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.
A man blows a conch shell at a market in Kalighat, Kolkata, India. The shells are used in various Hindu religious rituals.
Eyes are painted on a Durga Puja idol at a workshop in Kumartoli (Potter's Town), Kolkata, India. The idols are said to come alive when the eyes are painted.
Birds peck at orange marigold flowers 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 man naps while the monkey he keeps to perform for money holds his hand and grooms his hair, at Sovabazar Ghat along the Hooghly River, Kolkata, India.
Durga Puja idols at a workshop in Kumartoli, Kolkata, India. The idols are said to come alive when the eyes are painted.
Mixed spices, fruits, and vegetables are offered during prayers at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata, India.
Mixed spices, fruits, and vegetables are offered during prayers at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata, India.
A man places seeds and grains on mud from the Ganges river on his arm, in observance of Mahalaya, a tribute to deceased relatives.
In a very unusual scene, a small Hindu boy on the Maidan (Central Park) begs money from Muslim men leaving the observance of the Eid al-Adha holiday on Red Road in Kolkata, India.
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.
Clay Durga Puja idols dry along the railway tracks in Kumartoli (Potter's Town), Kolkata, India. The idols are sculpted from a straw foundation and mud from the Hooghly river, just a few meters away.
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.
Crates of soft drinks ("cold drinks") at a warehouse in Sovabazar, India. Plastic bottles are more expensive in India and not purchased as much as they are in the US. Glass bottles are reused.
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 severed cows head at a slaughterhouse, Newmarket, Kolkata, India. The cow is sacred to Hindus, but India is not all Hindus.
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.
Water dances on colored lights at a public fountain at Princep Ghat along the Hooghly River, Kolkata, India.
Crates of soft drinks ("cold drinks") at a warehouse in Sovabazar, India. Plastic bottles are more expensive in India and not purchased as much as they are in the US. Glass bottles are reused.
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.
Howrah Bridge is a focal point in Kolkata, India. It carries people, bikes, carts, trucks, cars, and animals over the Hooghly River, and is one of the busiest bridges in the world.
