We have previously written about Derek Brown’s photographs in this blog.  (see Photo Exhibit | Imagining the Muslim World by Derek Brown; US Mission Pakistan: Ambassador Hoagland Visits Lahore Fort and Badshahi Mosque).  In 2010, while on a trip to Kenya, he very kindly took a photo of the Nairobi Memorial for this blog. A USAID EFM, Derek is currently posted with his family in India.

We were thrilled to see his photos from India used recently with Rebecca Byerly’s New York Times’ piece Lost and Found at the Kumbh Mela.  What’s that? Just the largest gathering of humanity in the world with millions of people estimated to gather for the auspicious bathing day.

Every 12  years, an enormous pop-up city is erected on a flood plain, where the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati Rivers merge.  Organizers say up to 80 million people are likely to attend the six-week event.  Though there is not an official estimate of the crowds yet, the police and organizers say that on Sunday, the largest bathing day, the number of people separated from their family and friends at the mela rose above 20,000.

Read more here.

Here is one of Derek’s photos (used with permission):

Last month, he made a return NYT appearance with a blog post and photos of Chennai during the festival of Chithirai Thiruvizha which celebrates the marriage of Hindu goddess Parvati to the god Shiva. (see At Madurai’s Chithirai Thiruvizha Festival, Crowds, Flowers and a Golden Horse).

We are delighted for Derek and are looking forward to seeing more of his photos from South Central Asia.

Check out more of Derek’s photos on FB:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Derek-Brown-Photographer/213836190003

The photos are also available to order and license at  http://www.derekbrownphotos.com/Home.html

 

— DS

 

 

Related articles

• At Madurai’s Chithirai Thiruvizha Festival, Crowds, Flowers and a Golden Horse (india.blogs.nytimes.com)
• The Kumbh Mela, where to worship with 30 million pilgrims! (franceleclerc.com)
• The Temporary Megacity (dish.andrewsullivan.com)
• Kumbh Mela Aftermath (online.wsj.com)