23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
The Spirit Unleashed

In the narrow lanes of southern India, a devotee embodies a fierce deity during a local festival procession. The air hums with drums, chants, and divine energy as he surrenders fully to the moment, blurring the line between mortal and god. This frame captures the raw intensity of faith expressed through movement, colour, and a state of trance.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 02.2025
Date Uploaded: 10.2025
Photo Location: Varanasi, India
Copyright: © Arun Kumar Nalimela