Marathi Heritage & Festival Photography
From the thunderous Gudi Padwa processions to the disciplined grace of Dahi Handi, I document the heartbeat of our culture. I combine high-altitude drone views with raw, street-level storytelling.
A young boy dressed as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj during the Gudi Padwa Shobhayatra. These portraits are about capturing the pride of our heritage being passed down to the next generation.
A candid moment between a mother and son during the Girgaon Shobhayatra. I focus on capturing the authentic expressions and traditional details, like the Maharashtrian nath and pheta.
A portrait of a woman in full traditional attire, including a regal pheta. My close-up shots highlight the intricate jewelry and confident spirit of the participants.
A young participant at the Gudi Padwa procession, carrying the Gudi. This shot captures the innocence and seriousness with which our traditions are upheld.
Another young boy embodying the spirit of a Mavala. The bright sunlight and traditional costume make for a powerful and vibrant cultural portrait.
A modern Mumbaikar blending tradition with style, holding her dressed-up pet. This photo shows the evolving and inclusive nature of our cultural celebrations.
This video captures the infectious energy of women dancing in traditional Nauvari sarees during the Gudi Padwa celebration in Girgaon. It's a display of pure, uninhibited joy.
More scenes from the Gudi Padwa procession, showing groups of women dancing together. I film these moments to showcase the community spirit and collective celebration.
Women performing a traditional dance with lezims during the Girgaon Shobhayatra. The motion and color in this video capture the dynamic energy of the street performance.
The powerful sound of a dhol-tasha pathak fills the streets of Girgaon. This video gives you a front-row seat to the thunderous and disciplined performance that is the soul of the Shobhayatra.
About Marathi Maan: Our Heritage in Colour
The hardest part about festivals like the Girgaon Shobhayatra isn't just the light or the crowd, it is catching the quiet, honest moments amidst the noise. I balance my drone shots for that massive scale with ground-level portraits that show the authentic pride in a participant’s eyes or the intricacy of a traditional pheta.
When I shoot festivals, I am looking for the story behind the spectacle. It is easy to point a camera at a crowd, but capturing the focus of a Govinda pathak before they break a handi or the reverence of a devotee during the Aagman Sohla requires knowing the rhythm of the event.
I use a hybrid approach to ensure you get the full picture. My drone (a DJI Mavic) gives us those sweeping wide angles that show the sheer size of the gathering, but my main work happens on the ground. I use a full-frame mirrorless camera to get into the heart of the action, focusing on candid expressions and the traditional details like jewelry and attire.
Whether it is the vibrant chaos of Gudi Padwa or the solemn pride of Shiv Jayanti, I aim for a 5-7 day turnaround. You get high-res images that are color-corrected to handle the tricky lighting conditions of street festivals. If you are looking for video, I also handle speed-ramping and sound design for highlights to make sure the energy of the event translates to a screen. I travel across Mumbai and India for these shoots, so if you have a festival coming up, reach out and we can plan the best angles.
Photokablega
I'm a Mumbaikar through and through, and my camera is how I document the vibrant chaos of our traditions. I don’t just shoot events; I chase the stories and the heritage that makes our city special.
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