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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.