In the coastal village of Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu , faith takes on an earthly form during Kulasai Dussera . Here, gods and goddesses descend to dwell among men—not through idols, but through devotees who embody the divine in a spectacle of trance, transformation, and devotion unlike any other festival in India. As India celebrates Dussehra with fireworks and effigies of Ravana, over eight lakh devotees converge at the 300-year-old Arulmigu Mutharamman Temple , where the air hums with chants, drums, and the sound of transformation itself. A Festival of Transformation The Kulasai Dussera, observed during Navaratri , spans ten days and culminates in the dramatic Soorasamharam , the slaying of the demon Mahishasura by Goddess Lalithambigai—an incarnation of Mutharamman , the fierce guardian deity of the town. Unlike Dussehra elsewhere, where the focus is on the Ramayana, the myth here centers on female divinity and creation’s power to restore mo...
Project Sundarban is one of my long term project. Most of the work based on costal village, Natural beauty and daily life. Most of the working reagions are vulnarable to natural calamities like severe cyclone, High tide. Some places like Laharipur, Chargheri are facing numbers of tiger attack. My "Project Sundarban" is a small effort to those lives and to tell their stories by my photoes. Sundaban is situated one of the most cyclone prone areas and plays most impotent role in the southern part of West Bengal in India. Due to rapid increase of population and increase rate of deforestation have severe effect on this Mangrove. Increase rate of cyclone in last decade has also devastating impact on this areas. Apart from that, increase rate of man killed and eaten by Royal Bengal tiger started a undeclared war in between human and nature. Increase rate of threat on human lifestyle and Mangrove ecosystem make this project more life and scene.
Figure 1: A beautiful spot near Dutta River (© Swattik Jana)
Sundarban is packed with hundreds of places with having its own natural beauty. Dutta river is one of the strongest current river and numbers of family depends on fishing. Hundreds of small and personal fishing boats are anchored in the shore of the river. These fisherman goes out for fishing on basis of tide timings. With high tide fishes are being entered to the river and fisherman are waiting for them. At first they went to a suitable location during low tide and fishing net has been installed.
Figure 2: Supply of small baby fish with local ferry (© Swattik Jana)
Most of the population in Sundarban rural area are directly or indirectly depends on fishing. Prawn seed fishing is one of the most significant. Fishing boat is also one of the main mode of transportation as well. Apart from local village market, there are also several weekly markets like Tuesday in Satjelia, Saturday in Dayapur, makes a business opportunity for them. From Satjelia these Prawn seeds are being transported to Canning via Pakhiralay, Goshaba and Gadkhali.
Figure 3: Differentiation of fish before going to market (© Swattik Jana)
Figure 4: The boat and the net after fishing (© Swattik Jana)
Figure 5: Arrived from fishing (© Swattik Jana)
Figure 6: Helping hand from family (© Swattik Jana)
Figure 7: Seperation process (© Swattik Jana)
Figure 8: Lifeline of Sundarban (© Swattik Jana)
Figure 9: Mother-daughter on the way to bring water (© Swattik Jana)
Figure 10: Animal husbandry in Sundarban (© Swattik Jana)
Figure 11: A sunset in Sundarban (© Swattik Jana)
Figure 12: Two kids are playing at sunset (© Swattik Jana)
Figure 13: Kids playing with goats (© Swattik Jana)
Figure 14: A woman fishing nearby pond (© Swattik Jana)
Figure 15: Father and son fishing on river bank (© Swattik Jana)
Figure 16: Temporary house made of husk for rice paddy storage (© Swattik Jana)
Figure 17: A woman returning from fishing net collection with her family (© Swattik Jana)
Figure 18: A village road at Dayapur in Sundarban (© Swattik Jana)
Figure 19: Crossing Dutta river (© Swattik Jana)
Figure 20: Eyes filled with questions (© Swattik Jana)
Figure 21: The last livable village (© Swattik Jana)
Figure 22: On the way to fishing towards Dutta forest (© Swattik Jana)
Figure 23: Tied the boat with tree after returning from fishing (© Swattik Jana)
Figure 24: Pulling the boat to the river (© Swattik Jana)
Figure 25: Into the river (© Swattik Jana)
Figure 26: Cleaning muds from leg before standing on boat (© Swattik Jana)
Figure 27: Checking current and start paddling (© Swattik Jana)
Figure 28: Towards the Forest (© Swattik Jana)
Figure 29: Fishing net into the river (© Swattik Jana)
Figure 30: Time to seperate fishes (© Swattik Jana)
Figure 31: On the way to collect mangrove seeds (© Swattik Jana)
Amazing captures!
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Thank You Peerzada
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