Lost on the island, and then found or forgotten

{"slides": [{"type": "image", "show_title": "True", "album_title": "Lost on the island, and then found or forgotten", "src": "/media/original_images/00-DSC_0062-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_found_or_forgotten.jpg", "src_resized": "/media/images/00-DSC_0062-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_fo.height-876.jpg", "description": "<div class=\"rich-text\"><p>In mid-January every year, lakhs of devotees head to Gangasagar on the southern tip of Sagar island in the Ganga delta. They\u2019re here for the Gangasagar\u00a0<i>mela</i>\u00a0held every year on Makar Sankranti, the Hindu festival that marks the end of winter\u2019s short days and long nights. People from across the country come to take a \u00a0dip in the river and offer prayers at the nearby Kapil Muni temple. It\u2019s said to be the second-largest assembly of Hindu pilgrims after the Kumbh\u00a0<i>mela\u00a0</i>in Allahabad.</p><p>Given the magnitude of the gathering, many devotees get separated from their families; some are abandoned and even robbed. From 2009 to 2012, I visited a temporary shelter for lost people at the\u00a0<i>mela</i>, run by the Bajrang Parishad, a Kolkata-based volunteer organisation. The shelter was a site of distress, desperation and helplessness.</p><p><br/></p><p><i>The original version of this photo album was published on \u2018Roads and Kingdoms\u2019\u00a0in January 2017.</i></p></div>", "album_description": "<p><i>In January every year, many pilgrims at the Gangasagar fair in West Bengal get separated from their families \u2013 or abandoned by them. They end up at a shelter, where they wait to be reunited with their loved ones</i></p>", "url": "/pa/albums/lost-on-the-island-and-then-found-or-forgotten/", "slide_photographer": ["Ritayan Mukherjee"], "image_captured_date": "25 Jan,2018", "slide_location": "South 24 Parganas, West Bengal", "track_id": "", "embed": "", "carousel_html": "<img src=\"/media/images/00-DSC_0062-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_fo.height-876.jpg\" />"}, {"type": "image", "show_title": "True", "album_title": "Lost on the island, and then found or forgotten", "src": "/media/original_images/01_MG_8873-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_found_or_forgotten.jpg", "src_resized": "/media/images/01_MG_8873-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_fou.height-876.jpg", "description": "<div class=\"rich-text\"><p>Abandoned by his family, this pilgrim from Purnia district of Bihar found his way to Bajrang Parishad\u2019s temporary shelter</p></div>", "album_description": "<p><i>In January every year, many pilgrims at the Gangasagar fair in West Bengal get separated from their families \u2013 or abandoned by them. They end up at a shelter, where they wait to be reunited with their loved ones</i></p>", "url": "/pa/albums/lost-on-the-island-and-then-found-or-forgotten/", "slide_photographer": ["Ritayan Mukherjee"], "image_captured_date": "25 Jan,2018", "slide_location": "South 24 Parganas, West Bengal", "track_id": "", "embed": "", "carousel_html": "<img src=\"/media/images/01_MG_8873-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_fou.height-876.jpg\" />"}, {"type": "image", "show_title": "True", "album_title": "Lost on the island, and then found or forgotten", "src": "/media/original_images/02-_MG_8908-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_found_or_forgotten.jpg", "src_resized": "/media/images/02-_MG_8908-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_fo.height-876.jpg", "description": "<div class=\"rich-text\"><p>Some pilgrims leave their clothes on the riverbank when they go for a dip in the Ganga. When this devotee from Bihar returned, her clothes were missing and so was the group she had come with. She came to the shelter, where she was given a set of warm clothes</p></div>", "album_description": "<p><i>In January every year, many pilgrims at the Gangasagar fair in West Bengal get separated from their families \u2013 or abandoned by them. They end up at a shelter, where they wait to be reunited with their loved ones</i></p>", "url": "/pa/albums/lost-on-the-island-and-then-found-or-forgotten/", "slide_photographer": ["Ritayan Mukherjee"], "image_captured_date": "25 Jan,2018", "slide_location": "South 24 Parganas, West Bengal", "track_id": "", "embed": "", "carousel_html": "<img src=\"/media/images/02-_MG_8908-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_fo.height-876.jpg\" />"}, {"type": "image", "show_title": "True", "album_title": "Lost on the island, and then found or forgotten", "src": "/media/original_images/03-DSC_0062-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_found_or_forgotten.jpg", "src_resized": "/media/images/03-DSC_0062-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_fo.height-876.jpg", "description": "<div class=\"rich-text\"><p>Vakat<b>\u00a0</b>Ram, 62, who came from Uttar Pradesh, stood shivering in the cold. He, too, had lost his clothes after taking a dip in the river</p></div>", "album_description": "<p><i>In January every year, many pilgrims at the Gangasagar fair in West Bengal get separated from their families \u2013 or abandoned by them. They end up at a shelter, where they wait to be reunited with their loved ones</i></p>", "url": "/pa/albums/lost-on-the-island-and-then-found-or-forgotten/", "slide_photographer": ["Ritayan Mukherjee"], "image_captured_date": "25 Jan,2018", "slide_location": "South 24 Parganas, West Bengal", "track_id": "", "embed": "", "carousel_html": "<img src=\"/media/images/03-DSC_0062-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_fo.height-876.jpg\" />"}, {"type": "image", "show_title": "True", "album_title": "Lost on the island, and then found or forgotten", "src": "/media/original_images/04-_MG_8911--RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_found_or_forgotten.jpg", "src_resized": "/media/images/04-_MG_8911--RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_f.height-876.jpg", "description": "<div class=\"rich-text\"><p>A volunteer helps a lost three-year-old get dressed. She was brought to the shelter and soon reunited with her mother</p></div>", "album_description": "<p><i>In January every year, many pilgrims at the Gangasagar fair in West Bengal get separated from their families \u2013 or abandoned by them. They end up at a shelter, where they wait to be reunited with their loved ones</i></p>", "url": "/pa/albums/lost-on-the-island-and-then-found-or-forgotten/", "slide_photographer": ["Ritayan Mukherjee"], "image_captured_date": "25 Jan,2018", "slide_location": "South 24 Parganas, West Bengal", "track_id": "", "embed": "", "carousel_html": "<img src=\"/media/images/04-_MG_8911--RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_f.height-876.jpg\" />"}, {"type": "image", "show_title": "True", "album_title": "Lost on the island, and then found or forgotten", "src": "/media/original_images/05-_MG_8930-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_found_or_forgotten.jpg", "src_resized": "/media/images/05-_MG_8930-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_fo.height-876.jpg", "description": "<div class=\"rich-text\"><p>An elderly woman from Rajasthan waits in line to give information about herself and her family \u2013 hoping that they will eventually find her</p></div>", "album_description": "<p><i>In January every year, many pilgrims at the Gangasagar fair in West Bengal get separated from their families \u2013 or abandoned by them. They end up at a shelter, where they wait to be reunited with their loved ones</i></p>", "url": "/pa/albums/lost-on-the-island-and-then-found-or-forgotten/", "slide_photographer": ["Ritayan Mukherjee"], "image_captured_date": "25 Jan,2018", "slide_location": "South 24 Parganas, West Bengal", "track_id": "", "embed": "", "carousel_html": "<img src=\"/media/images/05-_MG_8930-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_fo.height-876.jpg\" />"}, {"type": "image", "show_title": "True", "album_title": "Lost on the island, and then found or forgotten", "src": "/media/original_images/06-DSC_0035-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_found_or_forgotten.jpg", "src_resized": "/media/images/06-DSC_0035-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_fo.height-876.jpg", "description": "<div class=\"rich-text\"><p>People who come to the shelter are given tea and food; then they give the volunteers information about themselves and their families, which is taken to the All India Radio office and broadcast on a loudspeaker all day</p></div>", "album_description": "<p><i>In January every year, many pilgrims at the Gangasagar fair in West Bengal get separated from their families \u2013 or abandoned by them. They end up at a shelter, where they wait to be reunited with their loved ones</i></p>", "url": "/pa/albums/lost-on-the-island-and-then-found-or-forgotten/", "slide_photographer": ["Ritayan Mukherjee"], "image_captured_date": "25 Jan,2018", "slide_location": "South 24 Parganas, West Bengal", "track_id": "", "embed": "", "carousel_html": "<img src=\"/media/images/06-DSC_0035-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_fo.height-876.jpg\" />"}, {"type": "image", "show_title": "True", "album_title": "Lost on the island, and then found or forgotten", "src": "/media/original_images/07-IMG_9014-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_found_or_forgotten.jpg", "src_resized": "/media/images/07-IMG_9014-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_fo.height-876.jpg", "description": "<div class=\"rich-text\"><p>An anxious Sarita Devi from Bihar wonders if she will ever see her family again</p></div>", "album_description": "<p><i>In January every year, many pilgrims at the Gangasagar fair in West Bengal get separated from their families \u2013 or abandoned by them. They end up at a shelter, where they wait to be reunited with their loved ones</i></p>", "url": "/pa/albums/lost-on-the-island-and-then-found-or-forgotten/", "slide_photographer": ["Ritayan Mukherjee"], "image_captured_date": "25 Jan,2018", "slide_location": "South 24 Parganas, West Bengal", "track_id": "", "embed": "", "carousel_html": "<img src=\"/media/images/07-IMG_9014-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_fo.height-876.jpg\" />"}, {"type": "image", "show_title": "True", "album_title": "Lost on the island, and then found or forgotten", "src": "/media/original_images/08-DSC_0050-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_found_or_forgotten.jpg", "src_resized": "/media/images/08-DSC_0050-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_fo.height-876.jpg", "description": "<div class=\"rich-text\"><p>An elderly couple from Jharkhand pleads with volunteers to help them find their relatives. At the shelter, people with mobile phones are a source of help. \u2018Can you call my family?\u2019 they are constantly asked</p></div>", "album_description": "<p><i>In January every year, many pilgrims at the Gangasagar fair in West Bengal get separated from their families \u2013 or abandoned by them. They end up at a shelter, where they wait to be reunited with their loved ones</i></p>", "url": "/pa/albums/lost-on-the-island-and-then-found-or-forgotten/", "slide_photographer": ["Ritayan Mukherjee"], "image_captured_date": "25 Jan,2018", "slide_location": "South 24 Parganas, West Bengal", "track_id": "", "embed": "", "carousel_html": "<img src=\"/media/images/08-DSC_0050-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_fo.height-876.jpg\" />"}, {"type": "image", "show_title": "True", "album_title": "Lost on the island, and then found or forgotten", "src": "/media/original_images/09-DSC_0121-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_found_or_forgotten.jpg", "src_resized": "/media/images/09-DSC_0121-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_fo.height-876.jpg", "description": "<div class=\"rich-text\"><p>A woman from Bihar bursts into tears, feeling afraid and alone, though most people are reunited with their families or companions within a few hours or by the end of the day</p></div>", "album_description": "<p><i>In January every year, many pilgrims at the Gangasagar fair in West Bengal get separated from their families \u2013 or abandoned by them. They end up at a shelter, where they wait to be reunited with their loved ones</i></p>", "url": "/pa/albums/lost-on-the-island-and-then-found-or-forgotten/", "slide_photographer": ["Ritayan Mukherjee"], "image_captured_date": "25 Jan,2018", "slide_location": "South 24 Parganas, West Bengal", "track_id": "", "embed": "", "carousel_html": "<img src=\"/media/images/09-DSC_0121-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_fo.height-876.jpg\" />"}, {"type": "image", "show_title": "True", "album_title": "Lost on the island, and then found or forgotten", "src": "/media/original_images/010-DSC_0193-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_found_or_forgotten.jpg", "src_resized": "/media/images/010-DSC_0193-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_f.height-876.jpg", "description": "<div class=\"rich-text\"><p>A man from rural West Bengal waits for his son near a makeshift tent. If he isn\u2019t found, the organisation will take him to Kolkata, and there, with the help of the police, he will be sent back to his village</p></div>", "album_description": "<p><i>In January every year, many pilgrims at the Gangasagar fair in West Bengal get separated from their families \u2013 or abandoned by them. They end up at a shelter, where they wait to be reunited with their loved ones</i></p>", "url": "/pa/albums/lost-on-the-island-and-then-found-or-forgotten/", "slide_photographer": ["Ritayan Mukherjee"], "image_captured_date": "25 Jan,2018", "slide_location": "South 24 Parganas, West Bengal", "track_id": "", "embed": "", "carousel_html": "<img src=\"/media/images/010-DSC_0193-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_f.height-876.jpg\" />"}, {"type": "image", "show_title": "True", "album_title": "Lost on the island, and then found or forgotten", "src": "/media/original_images/011-DSC_0101-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_found_or_forgotten.jpg", "src_resized": "/media/images/011-DSC_0101-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_f.height-876.jpg", "description": "<div class=\"rich-text\"><p>Mahdeo Singh from Jharkhand got separated from his group, but unlike many, he seems to be calm</p></div>", "album_description": "<p><i>In January every year, many pilgrims at the Gangasagar fair in West Bengal get separated from their families \u2013 or abandoned by them. They end up at a shelter, where they wait to be reunited with their loved ones</i></p>", "url": "/pa/albums/lost-on-the-island-and-then-found-or-forgotten/", "slide_photographer": ["Ritayan Mukherjee"], "image_captured_date": "25 Jan,2018", "slide_location": "South 24 Parganas, West Bengal", "track_id": "", "embed": "", "carousel_html": "<img src=\"/media/images/011-DSC_0101-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_f.height-876.jpg\" />"}, {"type": "image", "show_title": "True", "album_title": "Lost on the island, and then found or forgotten", "src": "/media/original_images/012-DSC_0120-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_found_or_forgotten.jpg", "src_resized": "/media/images/012-DSC_0120-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_f.height-876.jpg", "description": "<div class=\"rich-text\"><p>The lost three-year-old is finally reunited with her mother, who holds her child in a warm embrace</p></div>", "album_description": "<p><i>In January every year, many pilgrims at the Gangasagar fair in West Bengal get separated from their families \u2013 or abandoned by them. They end up at a shelter, where they wait to be reunited with their loved ones</i></p>", "url": "/pa/albums/lost-on-the-island-and-then-found-or-forgotten/", "slide_photographer": ["Ritayan Mukherjee"], "image_captured_date": "25 Jan,2018", "slide_location": "South 24 Parganas, West Bengal", "track_id": "", "embed": "", "carousel_html": "<img src=\"/media/images/012-DSC_0120-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_f.height-876.jpg\" />"}, {"type": "image", "show_title": "True", "album_title": "Lost on the island, and then found or forgotten", "src": "/media/original_images/013-DSC_0144-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_found_or_forgotten.jpg", "src_resized": "/media/images/013-DSC_0144-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_f.height-876.jpg", "description": "<div class=\"rich-text\"><p>An elderly woman from northern West Bengal says an emotional goodbye to volunteers who helped her find her relatives</p></div>", "album_description": "<p><i>In January every year, many pilgrims at the Gangasagar fair in West Bengal get separated from their families \u2013 or abandoned by them. They end up at a shelter, where they wait to be reunited with their loved ones</i></p>", "url": "/pa/albums/lost-on-the-island-and-then-found-or-forgotten/", "slide_photographer": ["Ritayan Mukherjee"], "image_captured_date": "25 Jan,2018", "slide_location": "South 24 Parganas, West Bengal", "track_id": "", "embed": "", "carousel_html": "<img src=\"/media/images/013-DSC_0144-RM-Lost_on_the_island_and_then_f.height-876.jpg\" />"}], "authors": [{"type": "inline", "show_title": "False", "name": "Ritayan Mukherjee", "bio": "Ritayan\u00a0Mukherjee is a Kolkata-based photographer and a PARI Senior Fellow. He is working on a long-term project that documents the lives of pastoral and nomadic communities in India.", "twitter_username": "anobservantowl", "facebook_username": null, "email": null, "website": null, "author_url": "/pa/authors/ritayan-mukherjee/"}]}

CATEGORIES

PHOTOS

VIDEOS

AUDIO

ABOUT PARI

GET INVOLVED

NOTES