Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

13th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
"Dondi" The Act Of Penance.

West Bengal, Kolkata. "Dondi" is a ritual that is belief and faith on god. Which is very realistic to religious people. Lie down on their faces on the road at every couple of steps to reach for the Sitala Temple, with the belief that offering prayer in such a rigorous way will please the Goddess and she will save them from unforeseen diseases and hurdles in life. Here the Woman and her son were doing this act on a road crossing where Signal turns red and traffic Halts "IN The Name of God".

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 05.2015
Date Uploaded: 06.2015
Photo Location: Kolkata, India
Camera: Canon EOS 1100D
Copyright: © Manash Ray