“Dance of Forgotten Time”
Location: Bagnapara, India
Date: August 2024
Photographer: Somdutta Mukherjee
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: United States
Category: People
Award: Honorable Mention
2024 International Photography Exhibition
"This photo holds deep meaning as it captures a moment during a visit to Bagnapara, the village where my grandfather was born and raised before moving to Kolkata. The trip was a journey into our family's roots, a chance to connect with the place that shaped my grandfather's early life.
On our way back, we stopped to admire a terracotta temple, a beautiful relic of the past, showcasing the skill and creativity of ancient craftsmen. As we marveled at the intricate details of the temple, a sudden rainstorm swept through the area, flooding the roads and driving us to seek shelter within the temple's embrace.
What could have been an inconvenience turned into an unforgettable experience. The rain danced to the rhythm of the storm, creating a mesmerizing symphony of nature around the temple. The beauty of the rain, seemingly flying all around us, was a reminder of nature's raw and unpredictable power.
We ate our lunch there, surrounded by the storm's energy, and as the rain continued to pour, it became impossible to resist its call. We kicked off our shoes, and in that ancient space, we let go of everything, jumping and dancing in the puddles that formed around us.
This photo captures that spontaneous joy, a moment where time stood still, and the past and present merged in the most beautiful way. It's meaningful because it represents not just a memory of that day, but a connection to our family's history, a celebration of life, and the simple, pure happiness found in moments shared with loved ones.”