Dec. 2013 | Feb. 2014

A night at Golam Fakir's ashram, Jodhiya village, Murshidabad district, West Bengal.

Celebrations of the rural society

Golam Fakir, Datta Baba Mela, Dec. 14, 2013 © Edith Nicol

Mallika Akhar, Datta Baba Mela, Dec. 14, 2013 © Edith Nicol

Sādhu sengho/mēlā মেলা

Noor da + Jhoru da + Amanat da, Datta Baba Mela, Dec. 14, 2013.

Mallika Akhar on stage, Pagli Mashi Mela, Dec. 16, 2014 © Edith Nicol

Endless days/nights

Malik Barosha Seva Ashram, Dec. 14, 2013 © Edith Nicol

IMG_1245 At Golam's ashram - full moon night © Edith Nicol.jpg

Laltoo Fakir aka Abul Kalam, just waking up, Jodhiya, Dec. 2013 © Edith Nicol

Malik Barosha Seva Ashram, Dec. 14, 2013 © Edith Nicol

Israelfil Fakir, just waking up, Jodhiya, Dec. 2013 © Edith Nicol

Sept. 2010 | Dec. 2011 | Jan. 2012

The yard where it started

Gorbhanga, soon after dawn, September 2010

A village life

The path

Akass Fakir walking along Teesta river. On the other side : Bangladesh. December 2011 © Edith

Noor Alam and his bike, a visit to a friend, December 2011 © Edith

Noor Alam at home, morning time, January 2012 © Edith

Arjun Khyapa's wife, January 2012 © Edith

Arjun Khyapa's house, December 2011 © Edith

Akass Fakir & Armaan Fakir on the road from Krishnanagar, coming from a mela, December 2011 © Edith

A few poets

Armaan Fakir at his ashram © Edith

Armaan Fakir singing at Jalangi mela © Edith

Mansur Fakir at a sadhu sengho © Edith

Babu Fakir at a sadhu sengho © Edith

Akass Fakir at a mela © Edith

Akass Fakir late at night in winter © Edith

Amirul Fakir, first encounter, first sight © Edith

Amirul Fakir at home, an inspired morning © Edith

Successful Noor Alam at Jalangi mela © Edith

Noor Alam at Arjunda's bamboo house © Edith

Arjun Khyapa © JANE ROWAN

Arjun Khyapa at home listening to himself after a recording © Edith

Arjun Khyapa © Edith

Shyam Khyapa © JANE ROWAN

Arjun Khyapa, Babu Fakir and Mohan Pato © JANE ROWAN

"Neverending music", late after dusk...

Recorded in December 2011, at Gholam Fakir aka Chote Gholam's ashram. Near Jalangi, Murshidabad district, West Bengal, India.

Khaibar Fakir, first encounter, first sight © Edith

The great Chotu Golam in his ashram  © Edith

Aarman Fakir at his ashram, Sept. 2010 © Edith

Recorded in December 2011 at Amirul Fakir's bari Gorbhanga village, Nadia district, West Bengal, India

Khaibar Fakir & Shyam Khyapa during Holi times, portrayed by Jane © JANE ROWAN

Huge or tiny gatherings | On the way

Jaydev Kenduli Mela in Birbhum district, January 2012 © Edith The Jaydeva Kenduli Baul Mela is organized in memory of that auspicious day of Jayadev’s bath at Kadaambokhandi ghat on the occasion of Poush Sankranti or Makar Sankranti and the st

The Jaydeva Kenduli Baul Mela is organized in memory of that auspicious day of Jayadev’s bath at Kadaambokhandi ghat on the occasion of Poush Sankranti or Makar Sankranti and the start of the fair commemorates the day on which Jayadev is claimed to have taken the bath at the Ajay River, and Padmavati saw Krishna in physical form. (...) The most beautiful part of the Mela is undoubtedly the Baul songs that go on overnight in different Akhras. It is for this reason alone that Jaydeva Kenduli Baul Mela has become one of the important centres of Folk Culture in Bengal, nay, in the whole world – indeed, a unique blending of religion, music, songs, poetry, folk lore, and livelihood. More

Babu Fakir & the Fakirs of Gorbhanga Recorded in December 2013 at Selina's bari Gorbhanga village, Nadia district, West Bengal, India © Babu Fakir & his dotara