Series description
This series shares images from one of the biggest festivals celebrated in India: Chhath Mahaparv. It depicts the festival being celebrated in the sacred Yamuna river, which is now heavily polluted by acidic waste water spilling out from big factories. The pollution has made the water harmful to both flora and fauna.
Biography
I am a passionate travel photographer. I have won the Realme first global mobile photography competition. My work has been exhibited in Tokyo, Iran, Bali, Boston University, Canada and has also been published in many known national and international pages on Instagram.
The Holy Dip
A woman takes a holy dip in the polluted Yamuna river during the Chhath Mahaparv festival.
© Sachin Ghai, India, Shortlist, Professional competition, Environment, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
The Holy Dip
A man in the acidic water of the Yamuna river during Chhath Mahaparv.
© Sachin Ghai, India, Shortlist, Professional competition, Environment, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
Surya Argh
A woman offers ‘Jal’ (water) to the sun, as she stands in the Yamuna river during Chhath Mahaparv.
© Sachin Ghai, India, Shortlist, Professional competition, Environment, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
Offering Prayers
A woman offers prayers as she stands in the polluted water of the Yamuna river.
© Sachin Ghai, India, Shortlist, Professional competition, Environment, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
Cloud Surfing
It might look like clouds, but this is actually the waste material from factories.
© Sachin Ghai, India, Shortlist, Professional competition, Environment, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
The Holy Dip
A woman takes a holy dip in the Yamuna river’s foam-like pollution during Chhath Mahaparv.
© Sachin Ghai, India, Shortlist, Professional competition, Environment, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
Offering Prayers
A woman standing in the middle of the polluted Yamuna river offers prayers during Chhath Mahaparv.
© Sachin Ghai, India, Shortlist, Professional competition, Environment, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
Clothes Washing
Women wash clothes in the polluted river. After offering prayers, they change their wet clothes and wash their dirty clothes in the polluted water. This happens on a daily basis, not just during the festival – washing clothes in Yamuna river is a routine activity.
© Sachin Ghai, India, Shortlist, Professional competition, Environment, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards