Like Plants in the Water

Cord Meier-Klodt travelled with friends Jean-Pierre Muller and Lalit Verma,to the Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad in January this year to experience the riot of saffron colours and the energy of a million devotees. Little did they know that their photographs would end up on the walls of the German Embassy as part of the exhibition “Jal Anand – Impressions from the Maha Kumbh Mela”. They were immersed in hip-deep water at the Sangam with a dozen Naga sadhus taking their ritual bath on the first day when they decided to bring these moments to the public,in an attempt at recreating the magic they had seen unfold before them.

The exhibition,which concludes today,has 30 works on display. It documents the Shahi Snan and provides glimpses of the processions,portraits and the everyday rituals witnessed at the Mela. Muller’s photograph Joy of the Sacred Water stays true to its title,where sadhus armed with swords wade through the water,with emotions of excitement and accomplishment. Another photograph by Lalit Verma,called Prayers at the Sangam,shows a solitary saffron-clad pilgrim offering prayers at the holy river. “We did not go with the intention of clicking photographs for an exhibition. We went there like travellers for the experience,” says Klodt,Deputy German Ambassador to India. “We were almost like plants in the water. It was exciting to see that the joy of the water was the reason for people’s happiness,” he says.

A photograph by Muller that shows a tide of people immersed in the Sangam,almost moving towards the viewer,lights up the gallery wall,while in another corner Klodt’s photographs in black and white are portraits of dred-lock sadhus,drenched in water. “The sheer beauty of their impressive faces interested me. It is not the typical Bollywood style beauty. Their faces conveyed the history of their life and every face told a story,” he says.

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“Though the Kumbh Mela receives world-wide publicity and public attention,this exhibition lends a more personal perspective and account to the 12-yearly event,” says Klodt. The exhibition has travelled to Pondicherry and Hyderabad,as well.

The exhibition is on display till today at No 6,Block,50G,Shantipath,Chanakyapuri

Pallavi Chattopadhyay