Yamuna: Water and Life - As a photographer arriving in Delhi from outside the city, I was first drawn to the Yamuna River by its sacred legacy a river revered in scriptures, songs, and rituals, flowing through the spiritual and mythological heart of India. What I encountered, however, was both haunting and humbling. The contrast between its divine status and its deteriorated condition was stark. Over the years, my lens has traced the length of this contradiction photographing not only the river’s surface but the layers of history, neglect, resilience, and humanity woven into its flow.

Through this long-term project, I have documented the many lives that the Yamuna touches: from the factory pollution that cloaks its waters in toxic froth to the migratory birds that still return in winter, painting the grey with delicate strokes of life. I’ve photographed devout families waist-deep in its waters during Chhath Puja, their faith undiminished by the filth around them an act of worship that is both beautiful and painful to witness. I have met men who harvest waste, boys who swim in poisoned stretches, and mothers who perform last rites in the same waters once used for purification.