***DONT FEAR***, a photo from West Bengal, East

Photographer's Note

I SHOT IT AT GANGASAGAR MELA(FAIR).FOCAL LENGTH=45MM.
Gangasagar Mela is the largest fair celebrated in West Bengal(INDIA). This fair is held where the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal form a nexus. Hence the name Gangasagar Mela. This festival is celebrated during January every year and is a major attraction for millions of piligrams from all over India.
The pilgrims come for a holy dip on Makar Sankranti (last day of the Bengali Month) Negha -Mid January. They take dips in the Ganges and offer water to the Sun God. The dip, as they say, purifies their 'self' and according to them, 'punya' can be obtained thus. When they are done with the ritual obligations, they head towards the Kapilmuni Temple situated nearby, to worship the deity as a mark of respect.
Here the sanyashi is called "NAGA SANYASHI".They are one of the main attraction of this fair..Every pilgrims come to see and get bless from them...

isabela_sor, anjan, ksvijayb, janink, kiwi_explorer, mpdre, noborders, Dragonheart ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

eugeneahn (298) 2007-05-10 7:57

I wonder what this aesthetic does with the money that is offered to him. Thanks for an interesting image.

isabela_sor (47748) 2007-05-10 8:03

I wonder if you can give me a link where I can read more about Naga Sanyashi,Subir.I will try to find one too.His atitude,the body language tells us about the intenseness and faith .A good portrait,and good catch of the whole scene
All the best
Isabela

mesutilgim (0) 2007-05-10 8:29

Hello Subir,
Wonderfull capture. Great pov and very nice info's.
TFS
MESUT ILGIM

wolf38 (30) 2007-05-10 8:48

Hello Subir. An interesting photo with many Informationen'und a outstanding explaining text. Very much impressing. Best regards, Wolfgang.

kiks (12805) 2007-05-10 8:49

Hi Subir,

kan je tell me why the sanyashi is such an atraction?

I like this colerfull photo and the contrast of the white sanyashi with it.
TFS
Kiks

Magritte (418) 2007-05-10 9:22

Subir,
Belle photo colorée et originale...le modèle ne manque pas de piquant! Félicitations et merci pour le partage.

anjan (1086) 2007-05-10 9:30

HA HA ... thats a funny shot and well noticed the boy hiding his face. Nice character and overall balance.
Anjan

janink (1010) 2007-05-10 11:59

A very interesting and storytelling picture Subir. It is always fascinating to see pure devotion. Even if you don't understand the rituals you can respect it because they are real. Very nice background withe the paintings and object pergrims/holyman. You captured it well.
Great job Ingrid

goodwill (4274) 2007-05-10 14:48

Yes, the young boys become afraid when they come across such nude/seminude sadhus. Its a stunner from you Subir
Rajeev

kiwi_explorer (12209) 2007-05-11 6:43

Hi Subir,
Interesting festival reading from your note. Good capture and interesting image. Well done!
Cheers,
Renier

vincz (19113) 2007-05-14 11:49

Excellent composition Subir. I understand the little kid can be afraid! This holy man, naked, covered with ashes, his long hair, all the deities paintings all around, all adults coming here full of devotion. Must be unbelievable for a kid, even an inidan kid! I like very much the expression you caught on the face of this man, and the greattiming for the gesture. A very good one.

delkoo (68) 2007-06-23 4:03

hi subir
this pure indian shot, indian's family in front of NAGA SANYASHI, surrounded by colourful pictures, very good reportage, I am very interested by your galery and your glance on India.

i am sold out
-:)))) tomorraw
have a nice w.e
didier

mpdre (1611) 2007-06-25 9:43

Hi Subir, very interesting picture. I like the gray appearance of the man in the purifying process and also the colors and icones of India. I like to listen about old traditions that are so different from where I'm from. I'm not religious but I believe in rituals as a psychological process to transform the self. These traditions that have been designed by many generations always contain some forms of wisdom.

Congrats!!!
Andre

noborders (1010) 2007-07-02 11:08

His posture is very imposing and impressive, he looks like a statue, and the posters of all the gods seem to attract more attention from the woman on the right, or is she hiding behind the man ?

Beautiful anyway,
Bravo,
Cath.

erhan1958 (15961) 2007-10-03 3:48

hi subir
very nice dokumentery
well done
erhan

Dragonheart (8434) 2007-11-28 7:15

Excellent shot Subir! Like the composition very much also the way Naga sadhu is sitting.
Well done
TFS
Regards
Vivek

Photo Information

Copyright: SUBIR BASAK (photographer123) (6248)
Genre: Gente
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-01-14
Categories: Momento Irrepetible
Camera: Sony DSC-H2
Exposición: f/4, 1/200 segundos
More Photo Info: view
Versión de la foto: Versión original
Diario de viaje: GANGASAGAR MELA
Tema(s): GANGASAGAR MY VIEW, "INDIA photos that I'd like to remember (III) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-05-10 7:51