Portrait of a City: Ahmedabad
Although my जन्मभूमि (birthplace), I had not come closer to Ahmedabad until I walked the familiar streets with a camera. Be it the architecture, food, culture – and now the UNESCO World Heritage status, Ahmedabad is indeed unique for many reasons. This ongoing album is my most intimate encounter with the city where I have spent three decades of my life. Through architecture, culture, markets, streets, and more, I attempt to showcase the daily life of Ahmedabad.
Years: 2020 – Ongoing
March 2022, Ahmedabad: A man praying at Ashtapad Jain temple
May 2022, Ahmedabad: Muslim men offering Eid al Fitra prayers at Jama mosque
February 2022, Ahmedabad: Inside one of the pols
The main gate and base of minarets of Rani Rupmati Mosque
Built of yellow sandstones, the Jama Mosque was built by King Ahmad Shah – I, the founder of Ahmedabad.
December 2020, Ahmedabad: A man praying at Jama Mosque
November 2021, Ahmedabad: Houses inside a pol
December 2020, Ahmedabad: Clothes being sold under Teen Darwaza
November 2021, Ahmedabad: House in a pol
The Akha Bhagat Chowk at Desai Ni Pole, Ahmedabad.
A heritage building in Ahmedabad.
An auto rickshaw in Ahmedabad
Boy with a big kite photographed at Jama mosque during kite festival celebration
December 2020, Ahmedabad: An auto rickshaw passes through Teen Darwaza
The Hatkeshwar Mahadev temple in Ahmedabad.
An old house in Ahmedabad.
A flour shop an old building. Ahmedabad.
An illustration of Hindu deities Lord Rama, his wife Sita, his brother Lakshmana, and Lord Hanumana.
One of the windows of Rani Rupmati Mosque, Ahmedabad.
Base of a minaret of Rani Rupmati Mosque
A closer look at Hutheesing Jain Temple entrance
Carvings at Hutheesing Jain Temple – II
Carvings at Hutheesing Jain Temple – III
Adalaj stepwell also known as Rudabai stepwell, Ahmedabad
March 2021, Ahmedabad: A woman praying at Shah-e-Aalam shrine
A crowd of devotees during the daily gum benzoin or frankincense burning ritual. Burning gum benzoin is a common daily or ceremonial practice in Indian households, temples, and shrines.
December 2021, Ahmedabad: Sidi Saiyyed mosque and its reflection in wudu khana or ablution pond
December 2020, Ahmedabad: A man enters Jama Mosque for prayer
December 2021, Ahmedabad: A man sitting by a pillar of an old mosque
October 2021, Ahmedabad: A young girl walks a rope by a building designated as ‘dangerous’
December 2021, Ahmedabad: A man applies sandalwood paste on his forehead at a Jain temple aka ‘derasar’
December 2021: An elderly woman sitting in sun outside her house in one of the pols of Ahmedabad
A 93-year-old woman in Ahmedabad
A woman standing in the balcony of her house in a pol
May 2022, Ahmedabad: A street food vendor places a paan in his mouth
December 2021, Ahmedabad: A man sitting in the sun
November 2021 – A woman talking on phone outside an old building in Ahmedabad
A man who exchanges utensils for clothes talking to a woman
A staircase in a ‘pole’
A woman waits to exchange her clothes for utensils
A heritage house at Dhal Ni Pole
A heritage house at Dhal No Pole, Ahmedabad
A house named ‘Amrut Bhavan’ at Upli Sheri in Ahmedabad
A house help working outside a house in narrow lanes of Dhal Ni Pole
A woman checks plastic tubs and other things
A woman enters Upli Sheri. In Gujarati, Upli means ‘the higher one’ and Sheri means ‘street.’
A woman preparing grains the tradition way. Grains prepared this way are usually used for a dish called ‘Khichra’
A municipality health worker at a rapid Covid-19 test booth in Ahmedabad poses for a picture.
A girl poses with Namaste gesture.
An elderly woman photographed at Ahmedabad’s Sunday market
Curious kids look at the camera. Ahmedabad.
A boy with beautiful smile photographed in Ahmedabad
A woman in Ahmedabad poses for a picture with one of the chickens she is selling
March 2021, Ahmedabad: A chicken up for sale at Sunday Market seems intrigued by the camera
December 2021, Ahmedabad: A man barely avoids running into a woman carrying heavy weight over her head
December 2021, Ahmedabad: A man brings back empty bottles of purified water
March 2021, Ahmedabad: A man buying chickens at Sunday market where different breeds of chickens are available for sale at highly varying prices
A sewing machine mechanic working inside his small shop
A tailor working by his house
A sari along with other clothes drying outside balcony of a house in Upli Sheri, Ahmedabad
Shanti Kaka – who in late eighties – performs engraving work on metal plates with remarkable perfection and dedication.
A man inside a house in a pol is seen writing something
A man working at a parking lot counting money
An old passport size picture at the back of a car.
A street vendor selling handmade wind chimes in front of the Bhadra Fort, Ahmedabad.
A woman in Ahmedabad
Henna-painted hands of a woman wearing colourful bangles. Ahmedabad.
Muskan – a young girl surrounded by footwear. She looks after the footwear for visitors in hope to earn some money.
A one and a half month goat lies comfortably in a girl’s hands as she observes the argument over the final price of the group of goats.
A man at Jalaram Temple in Ahmedabad fries puris as ‘maharaj’ or the head chef observes.
A sadhu seeking alms in street of Ahmedabad
December 2020, Ahmedabad: People collect food donated by Jalaram Temple
A man washes hands after having food donated by a temple.
Men who invited me over for a cup of tea.
A mother and her little girl photographed in Ahmedabad.
A girl applies lipstick to her brother’s lips. Ahmedabad.
A girl seems happy to see his brother with lipstick.
A young girl working at a flower market in Ahmedabad.
December 2020, Ahmedabad: Luna, once a popular two wheller, parked inside a pol
A common sight in Ahmedabad during the month preceding the Makar Sankranti or kite festival that’s celebrated on 14th January.
