Photogenic festivals around the world
It's said that there are more festivals in India than there are days in the year. True or not, one thing's for sure: India's mix of religions and cultures — Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Jain, Christian, Parsi, Sindhi and Buddhist amongst others — means that most days there's something visually stunning happening in front of your camera. We've picked a few to take you along to…
Korzok Gustor festival, Ladakh
The calm beauty of Tso-Moriri Lake, Ladakh, India.
At an altitude of 4,595m (15,075 ft) in the Himalayas, not too far from the Tibetan border, sits the lake of Tso-Moriri, a large and mind-bogglingly beautiful teardrop of melted Himalayan snow.
A calm expanse of water 19km (12 mi) long, 3km (1.9 mi) wide and barely 40m (130 ft) deep, Tso-Moriri is the centrepiece of the Rupshu valley which cradles the lake in mountains six kilometres (20,000 ft) high.
Tso-Moriri has quietly acted as a receptacle for Himalayan snowmelt and natural spring water over the millennia. The lake's water ought to be pure and sweet, but because Tso Moriri is a closed lake — the water flows in but has no outlet — evaporation over the centuries has left it saturated with natural salts washed down the mountainsides with the snowmelt…
Diwali - India's Festival of Light
Fizzing fireworks create an interesting photo challenge.
In India and throughout the wider Indian diaspora, the autumn months bring a magical festival — Diwali. It’s one of the biggest Hindu festivals and it lasts five days, with the third day being the main cause for celebration.
The exact date of Diwali each year is calculated, rather like Easter. It’s decided by the position of the moon, or more specifically, its absence, because Diwali’s wonderful lights and fireworks symbolise the driving away of darkness. The dates generally fall in November, but occasionally in late October or early December. (We've managed to capture Diwali in the amazing fortress of Jaisalmer — see our Pushkar Camel Fair photography tour.)
