India Holy Song

A lovely foreword by writer Jhumpa Lahiri presents a very personal childhood experience of India. At the back of the book is a helpful little guide, replete with mini-pictures of the full-page images and explanations of when and where each is taken and a bit about the background of the photograph. This book will make you want to pack your bags and head straight for the airport to try to experience even a fraction of the vitality that's in these 135 color illustrations. --J.P. Cohen

Book Description
Xavier Zimbardo's stunning India Holy Song captures the mystery, beauty, and spirituality of India as never seen before. A spectacular collection of four-color photography taken over a fifteen-year period by this award-winning photographer, this extraordinary volume provides an intimate, heart-stopping portrait of a people whose way of life and sacred rituals are some of the most fascinating and enigmatic in the world.

This deluxe, oversized volume contains a hundred riotously colored, light-filled, and beautifully composed photographs. Included within its pages are the textile-dyeing factories of Rajasthan bursting with seemingly endless, undulating streams of saturated jewel-like fabrics in astonishing hues, from aquamarine to amethyst to the deepest ruby red; the great camel fairs of Pushkar Mela, where endless caravans make their way slowly across the desert in paths of golden dust; and the sculptural beauty of square Chinese fishing nets in Cochin, Kerala, piercing a violet twilight sky. Image after image, Zimbardo reveals the many facets of India with a passionate and discerning eye. This is an astounding, evocative work that is sure to be relished by photography and travel buffs, as well as those interested in India and its spiritual and cultural nature.

With an introduction by acclaimed Pulitzer-Prize winning writer Jhumpa Lahiri, a prefatory text by the author that chronicles his experiences in India and his artistic process, and detailed captions that provide fascinating insight to Indian culture, India Holy Song is a deeply moving, compassionate, evocative book that reveals not only the subtleties of a place but the range of human emotion as well.

My congrats to the author.


Bee-yoo-tiful. Thumbs Up!   November 21, 2000
 7 out of 7 found this review helpful

All I can say is, WOW.

This book is a breathtaking spectacle of color, textures, emotions, and INTELLIGENCE. What I mean is, this just isn't a book of random photographs...these are exquisitely beautiful, intelligent photographs. The fact that the pictures have been taken in India makes it more exotic and adds a bit of spice to the already obvious mysticism.

I can't say I'm a professional at photograpgy, but even i can see the classiness of this piece of art. If you love photos, exotic cultures, or even a bit of sensitivity in photographs, this book is definitely a recommended buy.

Signing off,

Secret Agent Booker