Puja Multimedia

Puja from Quinn Ryan Mattingly on Vimeo.

Full HD version here

A multimedia short filmed and photographed in Manali, India showing the Puja ritual of the Rajasthani nomadic peoples. I documented their way of life during the week I was in Manali for the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop 2009. I hoped to present it as my final project, but as time was fairly short, I was unable to create it while in Manali, so I submitted only the photographs seen below. Here, several weeks later, I have assembled what I had envisioned.

Indian Portraits II

A wife makes dinner as I interview her husband about the ways of their nomadic lives.


My friend Golpi. His family is nomadic as well. He attends the school set up specifically for these children while they are in Manali. He was quite keen on studying, and was one of the kindest children I have ever met. Upon our first meeting, he invited me to his house, where I met his large family. I will miss him a lot, and hope to see him again in the future. Information on the school and the organization that makes it possible can be found here


Golpi's brother, or relation of some sort, during a prayer at the school. They seemed to use the words brother, sister and cousin interchangeably.


Another of his brothers, this one his real brother I believe. His leg was broken. He was confined to this small bed with some medieval metal parts protruding from his leg. I felt very sorry for him. He must lay and watch the world happen outside his window, unable to move even to use the bathroom.


Also a sister I believe. As was the case with many of the Indians I encountered, I was completely stunned by the strength and beauty of their eyes.


Another student of the school for nomad children. His name is Lucky. He attends school in the morning and afternoon, and works in the downtown as a shoe polish boy in the evenings.


A woman at a camp situated right in front of the school.


A woman took a chicken from its cage for unknown reasons. Though as during this week of Puja they refrain from eating meat, I believe it was only to gather eggs.


The only woman I saw smoking in all of the nomadic camps.


A woman washes clothes in a camp located next to my translator's house.


A young soul peers from a shopfront.

Indian Portraits I

The first in a short series of portraits of the peoples I encountered in Manali. Like many others I have crossed paths with across our great planet, they exuded a warmness and openness that make traveling, photographing and living such an immense joy.

Colours Of The Caravan

This was my final project submission for the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop I recently attended in Manali, India. My project for the week looked at the nomadic peoples from Rajasthan, a state to the south east, who travel to Manali seasonally in search of better work and income than found in their homeland. They bring their very vibrant and colorful culture with them as they gather in tent camps just above the city center. The men sell wares such as saffron and traditional medicines to tourists as the women tend to the chores of the home and children.

The week I was there luckily happened to be a special one on their calendar, allowing me a even closer look inside their way of life and culture. This week is known as Puja, a traditional carried out by many Hindus, but in an especially colorful way by the Rajasthanis. Days were marked by fasting, and nights by dance and worship to their goddess, Dashama, whose likeness they gave offerings and attempted to channel her knowledge by putting themselves in a trance-like state. The ritual concluded on the final night with the congregation staying awake until early morning hours, when the idol was taken from her shrine and loaded onto a decorated cart where she was accompanied by the masses through the town to her final resting place in the river. All along the way people would stop and join in circles of tranced convulsion and meditation, attempting final communications with the goddess before she was given back to the elements.

These people were some of the most generous and open peoples I have come across in any of my travels. They allowed unrestricted access to their lives and rituals, for which I am forever grateful. These photographs represent a small selection of those I captured in an effort to portray their ways and culture.

Girls on the final march to the river wildly swing their hair in a state of trance attempting communication with the Goddess.


Multiple families gather in tents to give offerings to the Goddess.


A young girl charged with the care of her infant sibling visits a neighbors tent. The sense of community and sharing among the Rajasthanis is quite strong.


Heavily decorated carts carrying Dashama to her final resting place in the river blare worship music along the way.


A young boy partially illuminated following the last worship session on the first night of the Puja.


A view from behind a ceremony. Each tent is extravagantly decorated with colors and and lights.


A male worshiper holds a flame in his hand to show devotion.


A family watches on just after receiving the blessing and marking by the head of the home and ceremony.


An elder in the twilight hours as the march to the river begins.


An ecstatic rush to carry the Goddess to the river.


One of the several likenesses of Dashama is returned to the elements, marking the climax of the Puja ritual.