Karthik Purnima
The Lord Brahma celebration day
Considered one of the most important holy cities of India, Pushkar is the subject of an annual gigantic pilgrimage, coinciding with the big « mela » *. It takes place during the 15th full moon of the Hindu calendar within Karthik month. It celebrates Brahma, the creative God of the Hindus and first limb of the Trimurti **.
According to legend, Brahma released the city under the influence of a devil by throwing on him the lotus flower he held in his hand. By touching the ground, the flower revealed the sacred lake. Since then, Râjasthânis go to Pushkar at least once in their life.
On the day of Purmina ***, the culmination of this celebration, the alleyways of the usually peaceful city metamorphose into a real human swarm. A procession of men, women and children, dressed as Hindu deities avatars, starts from the Sikh temple, leading the faithful to the way of the sacred Ghât.
In a huge walkabout, the city then takes the shape of an earthly rainbow sky. The colorful attire of thousands of pilgrims compete neck and neck to rush into a human vortex towards the lake.
Fervently, silhouettes undress, and vanish into the ritual of the sacred bath…
Integral with water, souls and minds with heaven, and being one with God.
* Camel fair ** Trinity of the Indian deities, including Vishnu and Shiva *** Full moon
Photo documentary realized in Pushkar on November 2013
Rajasthan, India
French text
Le jour du Purmina***, point culminant de cette festivité, les venelles de la ville habituellement paisibles, se métamorphosent en un véritable fourmillement humain. Une procession d’hommes, de femmes et d’enfants, costumés en avatar des déités hindoues, débute depuis le temple Sikh, ouvrant le chemin aux fidèles vers les Ghât sacrés. Dans un immense bain de foule, la ville prend alors l’allure d’un arc-en-ciel terrestre. Les atours colorés des milliers de pèlerins, se conjuguent aux coudes à coudes pour s’engouffrer dans un tourbillon humain vers le lac. Avec ferveur, les silhouettes se dévêtent, et s’évanouissent dans le rituel du bain sacré. Faisant corps avec l’eau, âmes avec les cieux, et qu’unes, avec Dieu.
*Foire des chameaux ** Trinité des déités hindoues, comprenant Vishnou et Shiva *** Pleine lune
- Boy portrait on the occasion of the Holi festival
- Religious procession , Shiva adversity representation
- Holy procession for Brahma celebration day
- Holy procession
- Lord Brahma Holi religious procession, deity adversities
- Religious procession on the Brahama celebration day
- Holy procession on Brahma day
- Women dancing during the holy procession
- Women dancing at the Brahma procession
- Pilgrim portrait during the Holy festival
- Pilgrims watching at the procession
- Milky man portrait in a Pushkar alley
- Pilgrim street portrait during Holy festival
- Milky man portrait during the holy celebration day
- Pilgrims in the Pushkar alley
- Pilgrims street portrait during the Holy festival
- Girls portrait during the Holy festival at Gau Ghat
- Pilgrims at the Gau Ghat
- Street portraits during the Karthik Purnima celebration, Pushkar
- Pilgrim at the Brahma Ghat sounding the bell
- Pilgrims portrait in the main Pushkar alley
- Pilgrim portrait during the Holy Brahma festival
- Pilgrims portrait in the Pushkar alleys
- Pilgrims at the Gau ghat
- Pilgrims portrait during the holy festival
- Pushkar main alley full of pilgrims
- Brahma Ghat in the Holy city of Pushkar