Photographing Pilgrimage: The Maha Kumbh Mela and Varanasi

Photographing Pilgrimage: The Maha Kumbh Mela and Varanasi

Photographing Pilgrimage: The Maha Kumbh Mela and Varanasi
December 2, 2025 7:30 pm
Bharat Patel

We are happy to welcome one of our own long-term members, Bharat Patel, to share his photographic journey with us.

Bharat Patel is a documentary photographer based in Oxford, originally from India, and has been a member of OPS for over 10 years. His work focuses on social issues and marginalized communities and has regularly had his work selected for exhibitions in and around Oxford.

In this talk, Bharat shares his experiences photographing two major pilgrimage sites in India: Varanasi and the Maha Kumbh Mela—a massive gathering held once every 144 years at the meeting point of three sacred rivers. In 2024, the event drew around 400 million people, and Bharat spent five days capturing the scenes.

Through his images, Bharat explores the rituals and daily life of pilgrims, offering a powerful look at faith and tradition in India.

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