Moments In Px
Of Frogs, Unbridled Horse and Unholy Rivers
For most of the year, Bagmati River merely trickles through the Kathmandu valley, collecting debris along the way. Come monsoon, it’s totally another story. Bagmati not only gushes, it forces its way through, flooding its banks and often creating havoc in different parts of the valley.
The risen Bagmati calmly exiting in the Sankhamul area.
A boy holds on to a dhara (tap), now totally submerged in the flooded Bagmati.
Spectators watching Bagmati gush through the Chobar gorge.
The swollen Bagmati in Chobar gorge.
The garbage swept along by Bagmati. Most of them are the plastic bottles that do not sink and are swept along with the river. Maybe next time you should think about where you throw those plastic bottles!
One of the saddest part is, when Bagmati rises, it wreaks havoc in many parts of the valley, such as this temporary shelter of the landless squatters. In a complete sense of irony, though the squatters know of the risks, they always build their huts by the river.
The flood brings more bad news to the landless squatters. Seen in this picture, their toilet is completely submerged.
With their ‘home’ swept away, these children had nowhere to go and had to resort to begging.
A family of the Sukumbasis community waiting for the water level to recede.
“How many married frogs equals to a day of rain anyways?”
Monsoon arrived late this year. For weeks, the sky behaved like a greedy sahuji (store owner), reluctant to part way with its precious cargo. Heat parched the land, melted the tar and inspired countless doomsday prophecies; all the while clouds failed to translate its blackness into raindrops. People kept marrying off frogs, in some places, women danced without their drawers to entice rain, but it only got greedy glances by men hiding in the bushes.
And, when it rained, it poured. All night. As Kathmandu rejoiced, Sandeep Shakya, all cozy in his home could not help but wonder about Bagmati River. Come monsoon every year, Bagmati behaves like an unbridled horse. “After a lengthy spell, it stopped to rain,” says Sandeep Shakya, “I went out to capture what I saw through my viewfinder.”
He followed Bagmati and documented the havoc it created. One cannot help but be moved by his images of the Sukumbasis–the often unspoken and unheard of community–who often takes shelter along the banks of the river.
- Rishi Amatya, photo story editor, V.E.N.T! Magazine
Sandeep Shakya
Sandeep Kumar Shakya is a self-motivated photographer, who has been playing with cameras since his childhood. He grew up learning the tricks of the trade by assisting and working with celebrated and award-winning cultural photographer Pradeep Shakya. A constant learner, he believes in giving himself assignments to improve and hone his skills.
( Aug 25th 2009, 03:18 PM ) says:
A different angle on things... I like it!!
( Aug 25th 2009, 04:40 PM ) says:
this story should jolt the so called save the bagmati festival.
( Aug 26th 2009, 09:02 AM ) says:
Really touched by this story. Different angle, different perspective.
Sudeep, you really captured the hardship of this community with just
a few clicks. Amazing! Rishi's narration is superb! Would like to see more human
interest stories like this on vent.
( Aug 26th 2009, 04:01 PM ) says:
Great job!
( Aug 27th 2009, 11:27 AM ) says:
This is such a great story..great not in the sense that i am happy to see and read what is portrayed and said...but great in the sense that it is such a well made story...captures the essence with so few clicks...and the story-telling by Rishi is just amazing...i love his narration...both of you should be congratulated for this!
( Aug 27th 2009, 12:07 PM ) says:
Bagmati worries me a lot, a lot! We have disowened it haven't we, the people who live in this side of it and the people who live in the other side of it! the photographer has chosen an exteremely interesting subject and told a wonderful story. My favourite is the one from chobhar gorge. I wish there were more variation in shots, change in vantage points and venturing closer to the individuals who are so affected by the mighty river.
Very propitious work by Mr. Shakya. As for Rishi you really did justice to the pictures with your story. also there could not have been a better title for this. over all loved the whole story.