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, food, and more, I attempt to showcase the daily life of Ahmedabad.
The Akha Bhagat Chowk at Desai Ni Pole, Ahmedabad.
A heritage building in Ahmedabad.
An old house in Ahmedabad.
A flour shop an old building. Ahmedabad.
The Hatkeshwar Mahadev temple in Ahmedabad.
An illustration of Hindu deities Lord Rama, his wife Sita, his brother Lakshmana, and Lord Hanumana.
Built of yellow sandstones, the Jama Mosque was built by King Ahmad Shah – I, the founder of Ahmedabad.
Carvings on Jama Mosque minaret
The main gate and base of minarets of Rani Rupmati Mosque
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
Bai Harir stepwell
A woman at Shah-e-Alam shrine as she comes out of the smoke caused by burning gum benzoin or frankincense – locally known as loban.
An auto rickshaw in Ahmedabad
A man and a tea cup
A heritage house at Dhal Ni Pole
Pillars of a heritage house in Ahmedabad
A man who exchanges utensils for clothes talking to a woman
A woman waits to exchange her clothes for utensils
A staircase at a ‘pole’
A heritage house at Dhal No Pole
A house help working outside a house in narrow lanes of Dhal Ni Pole
A 93-year-old woman in Ahmedabad
A woman preparing grains the tradition way. Grains prepared this way are usually used for a dish called ‘Khichra’
A woman selling utensils at Sunday market, Ahmedabad
An elderly woman photographed at Ahmedabad’s Sunday market
A man lighting up a beedi
A boy with beautiful smile photographed in Ahmedabad
A woman in Ahmedabad poses for a picture with one of the chickens she is selling
An elderly seller in conversation with a customer at Sunday market, Ahmedabad
An elderly fruit seller photographed in Ahmedabad.
A sari along with other clothes drying outside balcony of a house in Upli Sheri, Ahmedabad
A woman enters Upli Sheri. In Gujarati, Upli means ‘the higher one’ and Sheri means ‘street.’
Covid-19 antigen test kits photographed at a test booth where results are available within minutes.
A municipality health worker at a rapid Covid-19 test centre in Ahmedabad poses for a picture.
Shanti Kaka – who in late eighties – performs engraving work on metal plates with remarkable perfection and dedication.
A girl poses with Namaste gesture
Curious kids look at the camera. Ahmedabad.
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 boy with long hair convinces another boy to pose for a picture with him
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.
A man at Jalaram Temple in Ahmedabad fries puris as ‘maharaj’ or the head chef observes.
A man eating outside Jalaram Temple in Ahmedabad. The temple donates lunch every day to whoever asks.
A man washes hands after having food donated by a temple.
A mother and her little girl photographed in Ahmedabad.
Men who invited me over for a cup of tea.
A girl applies lipstick to her brother’s lips. Ahmedabad.
A girl seems happy to see his brother with lipstick.
A bicycle mechanic in street.
A moped in a ‘pole’ in Heritage city of Ahmedabad.
A barber shop in Ahmedabad
Threads are being coloured for Kite Festival
A young girl working at a flower market in Ahmedabad.
Family working at a flower market
Muskan – a young girl surrounded by footwear. She looks after the footwear for visitors in hope to earn some money.
An old passport size picture at the back of a car.
A sadhu seeking alms in street of Ahmedabad
A sadhu at Sunday market, Ahmedabad is looking to buy a radio that he says is to keep him company
A man selling clothes at Sunday market, Ahmedabad.
A man inside a house in a pol is seen writing something
A man working at a parking lot counting money
A woman standing in the balcony of her house in a pol
A barber chatting with his friends
Reflection of a man is seen in a mirror at Ahmedabad’s Ashtapad Jain temple
A sewing machine mechanic working inside his small shop
A tailor working by his house
November 2021 – A man sitting by a closed jewellery store talking on phone
