Sonepur Mela
Sonepur is a town 16 miles north of Patna, in the Indian state of Bihar. Every year it has an annual mela (fair) which lasts for a month. It begins on the full moon of Kartik Purnima which usually falls in October or November. The mela is at the confluence of two rivers the Ganges and Gandak and attracts massive crowds of pilgrims, sadhus and local families as well as live stock traders across India.
There are sideshows and entertainment fairs, which offers a wealth of photographic opportunities. I visited Sonepur in November 2015 and wanted to capture something of the festival activities centred on river banks as over several days thousands of pilgrims make offerings and take a ritual bath in the Gandak river. The holy men and their followers also set up camps where they pray and chant or meditate during this time of spiritual fervour.
As a Psychologist, I have a professional interest in people, which is often mirrored in my photography which includes travel and documentary themes.I would also like to do photo journalistic work.
I hold the Fellowship distinction, FIPF with the Irish Photographic Federation (IPF), in addition to the Associate distinction, ARPS with the Royal Photographic Society (RPS), the Excellence distinction, EFIAP with the Federation Internationale del' Art Photogaphique (FIAP) and the Excellence distinction, EPSA with the Photographic Society of America. I am also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society FRGS.
Email: stevepsy2@aol.com
website: steverimages.com
mobile: 0771 582 3683
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