Capturing the Divine: Mumbai's Sacred Festivals
From the shimmering diyas at Banganga to the unwavering faith of the Wari Yatra, I document the soul of Mumbai's festivals. No staged poses, just the raw rhythm of devotion.
The serene Dev Deepawali Maha Aarti at Banganga Tank, with priests holding tiered lamps. The reflection in the water creates a truly magical, symmetrical scene.
A close up of a priest during the Banganga Aarti, his focus intense as he holds the multi-layered diya. This shot captures the spiritual energy of the ceremony.
Another angle of the priest holding the ceremonial lamp, with the crowd of devotees visible in the background, highlighting the shared experience of the Dev Deepawali festival.
A compilation of moments from the Wari Yatra, including an aerial view of the procession, the innocent smile of a child, and the rhythmic playing of traditional instruments.
An overhead drone shot of the Warkaris during the Wari Yatra. The sea of white hats and clothing shows the unity and scale of this incredible pilgrimage.
Warkari devotees walking through the rain during the Pandharpur Wari, their faith unwavering despite the challenging weather. This shows my ability to shoot in any condition.
Devotees crossing a bridge during the Wari Yatra, with orange flags waving, creating a vibrant and powerful image of their journey.
A beautiful, candid moment of two women dancing with joy and devotion by the river during the Wari pilgrimage.
A close up on the hands of a musician playing the mridangam, capturing the rhythm and soul that fuels the Warkaris on their long walk.
A priest performing a ritual with incense during the Dev Deepawali aarti, the smoke curling into the night air, adding to the mystical atmosphere.
About Devotion in Lights: Dev Deepawali & Wari Yatra
Shooting festivals like the Wari Yatra or Banganga Aarti isn't about getting clean, static shots. It is about navigating the chaos, finding the quiet pocket in the middle of a crowd, and getting the drone up just as the sun hits the flags. I do not use heavy lights that kill the atmosphere. I prefer to work with the existing glow and ambient rhythm, keeping the shots intimate and honest.
Festivals in Mumbai—whether it is the intense, sea-of-white atmosphere of the Wari Yatra or the intimate, fire-lit glow of the Banganga Maha Aarti—are complex beasts. They are not about events in the traditional sense, they are about momentum. My goal is to capture that momentum without being an obstruction. For processions like Wari, I rely heavily on drone footage (DJI Air 2S) to give you the scale of the faith, to show the unity of the crowd from above. On the ground, I stick to prime lenses. This forces me to get close to the subjects, capturing the sweat, the devotion, and the small, human reactions that standard wide shots miss. When it comes to the Aarti, it is all about the interplay of light and shadow. I do not use heavy flash because it ruins the natural warmth of the diyas and the atmosphere of the night. I shoot with high ISO and ambient light to keep the grain, the mood, and the raw feeling intact. You get a film that looks like a memory, not a polished highlight reel. If you are planning an event that relies on community energy, public movement, or sacred rituals, I am comfortable in the crowd. I have hung off barricades and walked through pouring rain to get the frame. Let us talk about how to document your event as it actually happens, not how it is staged.
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