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INDIA. Abhishek Singh’s series “MASAN HOLI: THE FESTIVAL OF CREMATION GROUND” has been selected as one of the finalist in the 2023 Eyeshot Open Call series category.
Abhishek Singh
“Masan Holi: The Festival Of Cremation Ground”
Each year, something extraordinary unfolds at Manikarnika Ghat and Harishchandra Ghat, Varanasi’s revered cremation grounds.
Devotees of Bholenath (Shiva) engage in a unique Holi ritual—playing with the ashes from funeral pyres. Unlike the typical Holi festivities observed across India, awash with vibrant colors and gulal, Masan Holi is a phenomenon confined to this sacred city. Here, participants use ash, or “Bhasma,” gathered from the smoldering pyres in the crematorium, a substance considered invaluable to Lord Shiva.
Masan Holi: The Festival Of Cremation Ground
Ash and Divinity
According to local lore, Lord Shiva and his celestial army, including Nandi Bael, descend upon Manikarnika Ghat on the second day of Rangbhari Ekadashi. They bless the faithful and partake in Holi festivities, opting for ash over traditional gulal. This ash serves as a potent emblem of purification and unwavering devotion to the deity.
Through this singular festival, the essence, vitality, and time-honored custom of embracing death as a celebration of salvation come vividly to life.
Eyeshot Magazine #11 | Open Call 23 Edition
The 11th issue of Eyeshot Magazine is an eco-sustainable, limited edition work of art, printed in Italy on premium paper. Our dedicated team of 4 invested 3,000 hours to successfully conclude the 2023 Open Call. This year’s theme, “The Human Being,” explores diverse human experiences through photography. With an impressive 15,000 submissions from over 100 countries, the issue showcases a global perspective on street and documentary photography.
The Photographer
Abhishek Singh, a 25-year old artist,
His academic odyssey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the College of Art, University of Delhi. He is currently navigating an enthralling chapter as a Master’s candidate at Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi, with a specialization in visualization.
Abhishek Singh defines himself as a visual storyteller who peers through the lens to seize life’s unvarnished truths. To him, photography transcends mere documentation—it has the power to evoke elusive emotions. To master his art, Abhishek delves into the works of esteemed photographers, absorbing their techniques and gleaning insights from their unique narrative styles.
Winners op2023
Open Call 23
Finalists op2023
Single Category
Finalists op2023
Series Category
Eyeshot Open Call 2023: A Global Stage for Emerging and Established Photographers
The road to this moment has been a compelling journey of dedication and effort. Our tight-knit, passionate team of four has poured over 3,000 hours into realizing Eyeshot Open Call 2023, laboring tirelessly seven days a week. This year’s theme, “The Human Being,” has offered us a lens to explore the complexity and diversity of human experiences. From the dynamic pulse of cityscapes to the serene moments in rural life; from unguarded moments to intricate human narratives, the competition has received an astonishing 15,000 entries from more than 100 countries. The resulting body of work has been nothing short of a testament to the depth of creativity and passion that exists in the world of photography.
Guiding us through the meticulous selection process was a panel of highly-regarded jurors, a constellation of experts and luminaries in the field: Trent Parke, F. Dilek Yurdakul, Mark Abramson, Isadora Kosofsky, Laylah Amatullah Barrayn, Kitra Cahana, Richard Koci Hernandez, Narelle Autio, Emin Özmen, and our very own Marco Savarese, the visionary behind Eyeshot.
