Funeral Party Photo

Photographer’s Note

Leaving Patna, on the way to Vaisali, we pulled into a petrol station. This bus pulled in beside us. I noticed the people sitting on the roof and thought that they would make a good picture. They looked very serious. I smiled at them but they did not smile back, neither did they ask me to stop taking pictures. Then the young man, the driver, told me that the people on top of the bus were on their way to cremate their father. It was his body whapped in the orange cloth beside them. The wood for the funeral pyre was stacked under the body. I was taken aback, and asked if it was a normal thing. The driver said that it was. Bodies are cremated on the banks of the Ganges. They have no other means of transport but the local bus. He told me that they only have to pay half fare if the person is dead. I probably would not have taken the picture, had I known it was a funeral, but I did. So, here it is, showing how, in Bihar, poor people go to their funerals.

ktanska, snunney, papagolf21, jhm, adores, axiotea has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

serp2000 (9559) 2009-09-15 4:28

Hello, Kevin,
Funny shot. I am inderstand, this is daily life of this part of the world, but I can explane a feelings of our road police in this moment...
Good presentation, excellent sharpness, good colors! TFS!
Greetings from Ural,
Serghei

ktanska (16603) 2009-09-15 5:27

Hi Kevin,
A scene full of very Asian details. Little old bus is totally packed and ready to go after refuel. Well framed. Interesting to see monks in orange as a background detail, they've been main subjects so often here in TE.
Kari

snunney (34998) 2009-09-15 8:56

Hello Kevin,
A most unusual and rather poignant composition. A well presented daily life image with much detail. Thanks for sharing.

wolf38 (12871) 2009-09-15 9:50

Hello Kevin. A realistic and alive photo. Titles, photo and text complement each other in the best way. A good picture for TE. Really worth seeing. Best regards, Wolfgang.

Morac (20513) 2009-09-15 13:46

Hi Kevin

It's a great photo sociological and cultural.
It teaches us about life (and death) in this region of India.
Regards
Marc

ifege (1839) 2009-09-16 3:12

I love this one Kevin!
I've got to plan a good long trip to India (I've only had a couple of short visits). You've captured a brilliant moment - the seriousness (especially the heads out the window - definitely no air conditioning!) and great colours (eg the monks behind the bus).
cheers
Ian

RGatward (19745) 2009-09-16 8:00

Hi Kev, sorry for not dropping by for so long (hadn't your starting to post again, anbd sorry passing through Thailand without getting in touch, tight schedule with my family, next time..

A fine shot in the genre you described, and instructive of the approach to dealing with this event.

papagolf21 (56467) 2009-09-18 1:15

Bonjour, mon ami Kevin,
J'aime cette photo prise sur le vif qui rend bien compte de la vie quotidienne !
L'ambiance générale est parfaitement restituée et les couleurs superbes.
Amitiés.
Philippe

jhm (82679) 2009-09-20 3:48

Hello Kevin,

It's a great photo sociological and cultural.
Little old bus is totally packed and ready to go after refuel.
Excellent sharpness and clarity.
Nice composition and good presentation with the people on the bus.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice sunday,
John

adores (15581) 2009-10-01 15:40

Hi Kevin!
A really sad moment, but all the details here are really well captured - their expressions, the old bus, the petrol station, even the monks in background. A good daily scene, I guess it's the first time I see it.

axiotea (16133) 2009-10-09 20:12

Hello Kevin
For sure, if you would had known these people were going for funerals you might not have taken that picture. But you did it and although it is a sad moment, you have captured well this very special moment...
While reading the title, I have noticed straight away the corpse on top of the bus. Many times happened to me to see (Hindu)funeral processions in the villages...the corpse is usually bathed and dressed in white(at home a priest recites mantras, some final rituals and family/friends are given the opportunity to offer their last respects) then 4 'men' are carrying 'it' on their shoulders to the cremation ground.
Amitiés
Marilyn
P.S I am back in Goa since a week now... my last days in Bankgok were a bit busy and again(a pity) did not make it to see you ;)