temple

temple · fort

The ornate entrance gateway of a traditional Kerala temple opens into an inner courtyard, with heavy wooden doors and intricately carved stone pillars framing the entrance.

temple · ceremony

Worshippers and priests are seen at a Hindu temple shrine in Delhi during a religious service. A man in a light blue shirt stands near the center, raising his hand toward a hanging temple bell.

Madhya Pradesh·dance · temple

A dancer performs Odia Abhinaya during the annual Khajuraho Dance Festival 2020 in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh, India. The performer wears traditional Odia dance attire and presents expressive movements and gestures associated with Abhinaya.

temple · architecture

Volunteers are shown preparing chapatis in the langar kitchen of Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib in New Delhi. Dough portions are flattened with wooden rolling pins, while a volunteer in a maroon turban places rolled dough on a large metal tawa.

ceremony · temple

A Durga Puja religious ceremony is held at a decorated shrine in Katwaria Sarai, New Delhi. The central idol depicts Maa Durga slaying the buffalo demon Mahishasura, set against an intricate sparkling silver backdrop known as a chalchitra.

music · temple

Men perform Hari kirtan during a religious and cultural gathering at night in Odisha, India. Two performers wear saffron-orange shirts and pink dhotis while playing traditional devotional instruments.

temple · festival

Devotees gather alongside a decorated silver-coloured palanquin during the Yamunotri Doli Yatra in Uttarakhand. The ceremonial doli features golden domes, traditional cloth coverings and flower garlands as pilgrims move alongside it.

hills · temple

Kedarnath town in Uttarakhand, India, is situated in a high Himalayan valley during the pilgrimage season. The stone Kedarnath temple stands at the centre of the settlement, with crowds of devotees gathered around the shrine.

temple · festival

Pilgrims climbing the steep footpath to Yamunotri Temple in Uttarakhand, India, during the Char Dham Yatra season.

hills · temple

Kedarnath Temple is located in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand, India, and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The grey stone temple stands in a high-altitude valley surrounded by rugged mountain peaks and patches of snow.

Uttarakhand·river · temple

Pilgrims and visitors walk along the concrete promenade at Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. The Ganga River flows beside the ghat, with a steel bridge spanning the water in the background.

Uttarakhand·temple · hills

A large gathering of devotees assembles outside Kedarnath Temple in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand. The historic stone temple is decorated with yellow, orange and red floral garlands across its entrance and facade.

hills · temple

Kedarnath town in Uttarakhand, where colourful tents, shops, guesthouses, and rest houses fill a high-altitude valley during the pilgrimage season.

Uttarakhand·temple · hills

Devotees queue at Badrinath Temple in Uttarakhand during the start of the Char Dham pilgrimage season.

Uttarakhand·temple

Hindu priests chant mantras at Badrinath Temple in Uttarakhand, at the opening of the Kapath doors, with the ceremony officiated over by the head priest or Rawal, a Namboodari Brahmin from northern Kerala.

Uttarakhand·hills · temple

Rare footage as proof of Himalayan avalanches caused by helicopter operations at Kedarnath temple (part of the Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary) in Uttarakhand.

Uttarakhand·temple · music

Curious mix of bagpipes, the Indian Army, Hinduism and ancient Indian temples as ITBP band plays at Badrinath Temple in Uttarakhand.

temple

Annual kapath opening rush at temple dwar: Char Dham Badrinath mandir in Uttarakhand : Jai Badri Vishal

temple · ceremony

A priest chants sacred mantras during the rituals held before the opening of Badrinath Temple in Uttarakhand.

Uttarakhand·temple · ceremony

Devotees carry a ceremonial palanquin on their shoulders along the route to Madhyamaheshwar Temple in Uttarakhand. Along the way, people ring bells as the procession moves towards the shrine.

temple · flowers

Rudranath Temple in Uttarakhand is decorated with flowers for a religious occasion. Devotees sit outside the temple as the temple priest addresses the gathering and delivers a religious discourse.

Uttarakhand·temple · festival

Pilgrims make their way up the steep mountain route towards Yamunotri Temple in Uttarakhand. Many devotees climb on foot, carrying walking sticks to support themselves along the uphill path, while others travel on mules and khachhars.

festival · temple

Devotees carry the ceremonial palanquin of Goddess Yamuna towards the Yamunotri Temple in Uttarakhand. Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel play traditional band music as the procession makes its way towards the shrine.