As a street photographer, I’ve always been drawn to the raw, unscripted theatre of life. The streets are honest, they don’t wait for perfection. They breathe, they hum with stories. And somewhere along my journey, I found myself pulled closer and closer to rivers. Not just for their beauty, but for what they hold — memory, motion, devotion, decay, and rebirth.

My latest and ongoing project, ‘Where the River Flows’, is a quiet exploration of life along the riverbanks of India.

These rivers are lifelines. They carry within them the pulse of civilisations, the rhythm of everyday rituals and the subtle poetry of people who have lived by their shores for generations. From the sacred ghats of Varanasi, where time often feels suspended and prayers rise with the mist each morning, to the chaotic charm of Kolkata’s riverfront where labourers, children, pilgrims and lovers all find their moments.

Each frame is a window into a deeply layered world. At Prayagraj, where three rivers meet, there’s a different kind of convergence. One that isn’t just geographical, it’s spiritual and, at times, overwhelming.

What began as a photographic study quickly became something more personal.  ‘Where the River Flows’ offers a journey into the interconnectedness of these riverine settlements, shedding light on their traditions, challenges and moments of tranquility

 Through these photographs, my goal is to portray the enduring bond between people and their rivers, while capturing both timeless beauty and poignant realities that shape the existence along these water passages. This project is a poetic visual diary that illuminates the complexities of human experience and the ways the unassuming passage of water influences it.

These rivers represent movement and memory, tradition and transformation. Through this project, I hope to show not just what they look like, but what they feel like.

— Rohit Vohra is a street photographer, educator and editor of APF Magazine