Shree Ganapathy Hindu Temple Chariot Festival, Wimbledon
This month I’ve photographed two Hindu chariot festivals in London, both from Tamil temples, and although they have had much in common, there was noticeably a different atmosphere to the two, and it shows in the pictures.
Shree Ganapathy Hindu Temple Chariot Festival, Wimbledon
Ealing was the larger and more showy of the two, with many more dancers and costumes, but although everyone was very friendly I found I didn’t want to stay long. At Wimbledon I felt much more at home; it was smaller, somehow a little more domestic and more caring and I stayed working there for twice as long and was very tempted by the invitation to stay and have a meal but after working pretty well flat out for over two hours decided I needed to go for a rest with a glass or two in the pub, and then get on with processing the pictures.
Shree Ganapathy Hindu Temple Chariot Festival, Wimbledon
Of course my view is an outsider’s view of these events, and may not reflect the realities for those involved in these religious festivals. But it’s very important that when I photograph events such as these that it is my point of view, and that I’m not producing Temple publicity.
So though I try to be sensitive to the event and observe so far as I understand them the protocols (like working without shoes) and not get in the way of what is happening, there may well be pictures that some of those in them don’t like. But fortunately, most of the time, the people I photograph react very positively to the pictures.
I also think its important to try and understand what is going on in order to photograph it, and at some religious festivals this is not easy. Hinduism claims to be the world’s oldest religion and seems to me the most intricate and dense, with a deeply philosophical approach and a language that makes it hard for me to understand. Getting the captions right can be problem but I like to try and give some idea what things are about and I’m always happy to correct any errors or make any necessary clarification, although I’m unlikely to alter my opinions. But the pictures are what I saw and how I saw it and I stand by them.
The largest of these festivals in London is I think the Sri Murugan Temple Chariot Festival in Manor Park, East Ham which I photographed last year.