A Journey Through Faith and Frames: My Time in Amritsar
Earlier this month, I found myself in Amritsar for a cousin’s wedding — a typical Indian wedding in all the best ways: vibrant, chaotic, emotional, and packed with back-to-back events. But despite the madness, I managed to carve out a little time for myself and my camera. What followed was a short but meaningful photographic journey through some of the most important spiritual spaces in Sikhism.
The Golden Hear of Amritsar
At the center of everything in Amritsar is the Harmandir Sahib, better known as the Golden Temple. I made it a point to visit twice — once during the calm of the afternoon and again at night when the temple glows under the lights and reflects perfectly in the Amrit Sarovar. Both experiences felt completely different, and equally special.
There’s something about being there — the gentle rhythm of the prayers, the silence in people’s eyes, the way everyone walks barefoot with quiet purpose. The devotion is not just visible, it’s deeply felt. The Golden Temple isn’t just a beautiful structure — it’s a space alive with centuries of faith, service, and shared humanity.
The shimmering Sri Harmandir Sahib at night
The shimmering Sri Harmandir Sahib in the afternoon
On one of the days, we drove out to Dera Baba Nanak, which is hugely important in Sikh history. This is where Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, spent most years of his life. The town is small and quieter than you would expect but carries a weight — you can feel it. While there, I also visited family in a nearby village and managed to go to two more gurudwaras: Sri Darbar Sahib and Sri Chola Sahib. Both are deeply connected to Guru Nanak’s life. Chola Sahib in particular is known for preserving a robe said to have been worn by the Guru during his travels — there’s so much history, so many stories tied to these places.
The robe Guru Nanak wore on display at Sri Chola Sahib
People prostrating in front of Guru Granth Sahib at Sri Darbar Sahib
Honestly, I didn’t expect to take much away beyond some photos and a few quiet moments, but the experience really stayed with me. There’s something powerful about being in spaces where people have gathered for centuries in faith and service. It gave me a new perspective — not just as a photographer, but as a person.
Lately, I’ve also been experimenting with how I present my photographs — not just what I shoot, but how it’s framed and shared. One thing I’ve started doing is using colored borders that reflect the mood or dominant tone of the image. So, if a photo is mostly red — say, a warm evening scene or a burst of marigolds — I’ll give it a red border. It’s a small touch, but it’s been a fun way to make the presentation feel more intentional, more expressive. I tried a bit of that with the Amritsar set too — let’s see how it comes together.
It was a short trip, squeezed between wedding functions, but it managed to be deeply fulfilling in its own way. Amritsar gave me moments of stillness in the middle of celebration — and a lot of frames I’ll keep going back to.