It was the first timeBenn Jayms Tkalcevic- Australian art filmmaker, owner of the famous Hoi An travel video in 2019 - came to India, although this land is always in the top of the places he wants to visit. Joining him on the journey is Vietnamese-origin photographer Vuong Bui (Vunkki) andErik Hedenfalk, two close friends with a passion for travel photography.
They arrived just in time for the Indian festival of Holi, and felt the bustling, vibrant atmosphere all over the country. Held on the full moon day of the month of Phalgun in the Hindu calendar, Holi has an important religious significance. This is a holiday that marks the end of winter and the arrival of spring, and also celebrates the victory of good over evil. People take to the streets to throw colored powder at each other, symbolizing freedom and non-discrimination.
Many people in this country believe in the power of the gods, and in miraculous healing methods. There are people who dedicate their lives to their religion, to the beliefs they believe in. It is said that if any ancient magic really existed, India was its source.
Unfortunately, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Benn and his friends had to return home earlier than planned. However, during their 10-day stay in this sacred place, the three of them fell in love with this place. They visited the peaceful, lonely town of Orcha; Agra, home to the ancient Taj Mahal; Varanasi, the holy city on the banks of the Ganges, the center of Hinduism for thousands of years. They also visited Delhi, Vrindivan and Mathura, lands rich in religious colors.
Throughout that "magical and strange" journey, as Benn said, "although we did not witness any magic with our own eyes, we felt the wonders in the people and the lands we visited", and "this trip is a great reason for us to return to India again, someday soon".
