The long single-track roads were dotted with mango trees, palash blossom and palms. They were backed by hazy distant ridges and seemed to go on forever though the land as we went in search of photographs in the tribal rich district of Chota Udepur in rural Gujarat, India.

This work shares the story of the Holi Hai! celebrations of rural Rathwa tribal communities, far away from the loud speakers and parties in the cities, where the relationship with the land is central to ritual, culture and tradition. Rathwa celebrations are a vast array of chaotic stalls across fields, towering lines of bamboo sticks cut to size for eating and carts selling crushed ice dipped in bright fruit juices.

Work was hand printed in a mural darkroom for exhibition at Artcore Gallery. The photographs were made on an artist residency in India with Format 2023 and Artcore.