Photography has always been about stories for me.These two frames, shot at completely different places and moments, somehow felt deeply connected when I put them together.They were taken at different times and places, yet together, they told a powerful story.
The Left one was taken during Holi in Mathura — a woman draped in red, her face hidden behind a delicate Dupatta. She is newly married, bound by traditions, stepping into a life shaped by societal norms. The red of her attire symoolizes love, duty, and expectations. She is part of this world, yet not entirely free, her identity is covered, her face unseen, much like the unspoken rules she must now follow.
The Right one was shot at the Kumbh Mela — a woman in stark contrast. Bald, dressed in white, she is about to renounce the material world. No colours, no attachments, no expectations. She has stripped away every layer, literal and symbolic, to embrace a different kind of life. She is walking away from everything the first woman is stepping into.
I chose these two images because they contrast so deeply. One woman is entering a life filled with traditions, while the other is leaving it all behind. One is covered, the other is not. One is bound to society, the other has cut all ties.
But does letting go of everything truly mean freedom? And does following tradition mean you are not free?
These images made me question, what really defines Freedom? Is it about leaving everything behind, or is it about finding peace within what you have?
I love the two pictures you have shown and the contrast. Freedom, in my view, is the making a choice, of your own free will, not to conform, not because of society or the government or your parent….Both the women could be free, if they have chosen the path they are embarking on. The Hindu scriptures talk of the different stages of life - so in short, both women could be free - or not.
I really love how you tell stories through photographs, the description blend in really well. Its amazing keep doing what you are doing.