honorable mention
Mahesh Balasubramanian india
Photo © Mahesh Balasubramanian
title
Rituals of Fire and Faith: Transformation at Kulasai Dasara
This series captures that intensity: the smoke, flames, movement, and haunting expressions of transformation. More than documentation, it is an homage to a living tradition where faith and community converge in powerful visual and spiritual spectacle.
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entry description
The Kulasai Dasara Festival in Tamil Nadu is a raw and visceral celebration of devotion. Unlike mainstream Dussehra, here devotees embody deities—most vividly Goddess Kali—through paint, costume, fire, and trance.This series captures that intensity: the smoke, flames, movement, and haunting expressions of transformation. More than documentation, it is an homage to a living tradition where faith and community converge in powerful visual and spiritual spectacle.
about the photographer
My name is Mahesh and I am from Chennai, India. I started my photography journey in 2008 and took photographs of everything which I felt was beautiful. I shot macro, nature, landscape, etc. but it did not seem to satisfy me much. I then realized my interest was towards people photography and it soon became a passion. Most of my portraits are taken in the streets of India, with available ambient natural light. I strive to portray their inner heart and soul through the expressions in the eyes. I believe that through the subject’s eyes and expression, one can get a feeling of the person’s emotions, state of mind, happiness or sorrow. It is my goal to make portraits which will connect the viewers and the subjects directly. Apart from street portraits, I take Street and Travel photography.back to gallery
