“The Dance of Hunger and Holiness”

In a small, impoverished village in Bangladesh, where life is defined by hard labor and uncertainty, a group of men transform themselves into divine beings. This series captures their sacred ritual—not in temples or theaters, but in narrow alleyways, village courtyards, and doorsteps. Donning elaborate handmade costumes and vibrant body paint, these men become the gods and demons of Hindu mythology: Kali, Durga, Shiva, and the mythic tiger spirit. They carry their entire theater in a wooden box, going house to house, performing nightly dramas that are as much about faith as they are about survival. This is not merely performance—it is a lifeline. The drama is their only source of income, and their only means to feed their families. Yet they bring more than survival to their village—they bring color, reverence, and a momentary escape into the divine. The images explore themes of gender fluidity in tradition, ritual in poverty, and the power of storytelling as sustenance. These are not professional actors. They are laborers, sons, and fathers—men who become gods not for glory, but for hope.