Finding Her

It was a few years before the news and media hype about the Middle East wars began. I was younger than I am and interested in photography, philosophy, art and human history.A friend and I traveled to India to tour and see a land we had heard so much about. We traveled to India, a country with a great diversity of ethnicities and religions; Where the unified culture of the dominant world has not yet penetrated. And the roots of the religions of the Lord of kindness (godhead) can still be found, and the traces of the women who were God can be traced back to her.

The trip was planned for 60 days and it is very short time to see India. In the words of a Swedish friend I saw in Bombay, "Traveling to India in less than four months means not seeing India."

(I must admit that she was absolutely right)

But at the same time I was able to see my pre-defined areas in the north, center, south and west of India. Areas with great religious and ethnic diversity; I saw from Muslim neighborhoods to important Hindu religious centers.I met Tibetan immigrants and talked to Buddhists and cooked with them. I was able to help the Tibetan refugee camp to optimize and repair their heating system. I visited the most important Hindu temple and traveled to the river respected by the Indians.

I passed historical places in the shortest possible time and tried to be among the people and talk to them and visit their houses and neighborhoods.I tried to use the train to travel inside India, which is the most accessible means of public transport for Indians.

"Immersing oneself in the masses is not for everyone; enjoying one's population is an art that India has taught me."

To understand the power of religion, I tried to visit the holy places of Muslims and Hindus and talk to local religious leaders. These two religions are the most radical and powerful religions in India.

Every moment there was a pause, I enjoyed the beauties, the smells in the air woke me up, the sound of car horns brought me back to myself, and the colors called me to think about aesthetics.

I saw people I had never seen before

I saw people I had never seen before, I heard voices I had not heard, I smelled smells I did not know, I found the function of color in everyday life

During this trip, I saw many places, each of which was built by an ethnic group or an empire. I was looking for her in each of them. Finding her in architecture in language in culture in the face of the Indian people.

This trip taught me that sometimes it is not possible to take a photo on a specific subject or maybe a photo is not the first priority. Maybe a photo is an excuse just to learn more, to be more curious and to experiment.

But apart from that, I found him; Where I could not imagine. A place that was contrary to popular belief. I came from the Middle East and it is a common perception in Middle Eastern culture that it starts from the Horn of Africa and reaches Pakistan.

?"The gods are either closer to you than a jugular vein, or you should raise your hand to the sky to help you."

Yes, in our imagination is the place of the gods in heaven (It is in the sky)

I found her in a temple on a sacred mountain for Hindus;In a temple guarded by government security forces

And the law was not obeyed : " Admission is free only for Hindus."

Yes, she was in that temple....

Yes she was in that temple but not like a goddess. According to a nun there, he was in a deep well in the temple that could be seen from a distance guarded by Indian Army guards.