VIBHUTI’s
MAULI
Vibhuti Tharali
Concept Note:
Changes start seeming more rapid once you've left home, and I don't think you realise it until you accidentally listen to the same old song that you used to listen to with your mother while she was cooking in the kitchen, or remember that one time when you were asked to take a family photograph near the Gateway of India.
I think that's what humans do, right? Try to fill those empty spaces by finding things that we relate to.
Last year, I was travelling to Pandharpur, a town in Maharashtra, when I came across these three women at a local marketplace. I did not think much about the photograph until I found myself filling those empty spaces. The fragrance of the agarbatti that the shopkeeper sold reminded me of the flowers that my grandma wore in her hair.
I don't recall what the conversation was about. All I remember hearing was the shopkeeper saying, "Mauli, Mauli," referring to lord Vithoba as his mother. It reminded me of the stories that my mother told me when I was a kid. The stories were of Sant Tukaram and his devotees worshipping Lord Vithoba and Rukmini, his wife.
Since then, I have always wondered: what makes these devotees walk barefoot, all the way to Pandharpur every year to catch a glimpse of him? What fascinates them? Is it the place? Is it the familial love and wonder that drives them?
Or are they trying to fill those empty spaces the way I did?
Bio:Vibhuti Pravin Tharali is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree at Anant National University in Ahmedabad, with Product Design as her major and Interaction Design as her minor. Back home in Mumbai, she never thought she would be introduced to so many new and inspiring chapters in her life. It all started with her capturing narrators and their stories through photographs.
Her journey in photography began several years ago when she discovered her love for capturing the world around her through her lens. She has since honed her skills in portrait painting and street photography. She hopes to connect with people and explore new opportunities as she continues her journey, by being a part of different projects that will introduce her to a new world of photography and design. She also enjoys writing short stories.