I am an Indian photographer and I am passionate about exploring different cultures through photography. Experiencing other cultures, meeting people from other communities from my own country, India, or other countries fascinates me the most. Through my photography i seek to document my personal experiences with people, places, events and moments as i see them and to share it with others the beauty & diversity of the world I have seen.
I have been witnessing "WELL OF DEATH" from my childhood and since then i always wanted to document this through my lense. Three days with those daredevils, their stunts, stories and thrilling experiences is what i am sharing. Brave stuntmen NASIV, TASHOVAR, PARVEJ, SHAHIL & ASHOK have long been riding the near-vertical walls of India's Well of Death
More info: Instagram
Extreme
Holding hands, standing, sleeping, sitting sideways, passing papers/balloons/money are few to list stunts which they perform in this well. Here NASIV, TASHOVAR, PARVEJ & SHAHIL are holding their hands.
Well of Death
The main attraction at the festivals all across India, hundreds of spectators crowded around a circular pit to witness daredevil drivers in cars & motorcycles performing stunts in vertical pit known as the "Well of Death." Once a sight at festivals across northern India, the practice is now waning but that doesn't stop festivalgoers and stuntsmen from capitalizing on the few remaining Wells of Death in the country.
ASHOK, TASHOVAR, NASIV, PARVEJ & SHAHIL "The Daredevils"
It's time for next show, ticket checker has taken his position
Announcements of next show has began, they will try their level best to attract people.
TICKET DISTRIBUTION OFFICE;) It's time for next show.
PLACE TO STAY, under the shade of Well's structure. SHAHIL is taking a break after his performance.
EVEN PEOPLE HAVING PROBLEM CLIMBING STAIRS WILL NOT MISS THIS...
This is how it looks when you see up
The whole thing started from UK but eventually, the spectacle made its way to India. Initially, it was said that the performers used manual bicycles to ride around the silodromes. The stunt would go on continuously for 48 hours. Pedal bicycles thereafter replaced by motorcycles and cars.
TASHOVAR getting ready for the first trial round while people are settling down
ENDLESS QUEUE... .. .
In action
Though things started from America & UK but the Indian version is considered even more dangerous than western silodromes, since safety precautions aren't often observed, drivers never wear helmets, cars & motorcycles are often in need of repairs. Even wells are constructed quite big, 30-50ft dia. constructed out of wooden planks do have some missing pieces.
Isn't it truly a well...
PARVEJ IN THE ACT...
He is the one who convinced everyone, allowing me to shoot whatever I want.
NARSHA perform stunts in the car from the back seat. Waiting for her turn to come.
ASHOK & his car waiting for his turn to come.
PARVEJ & SUNITA performing. While cars are rolling, people on ground keep an eye on whats happening
SHAHIL keeping an eye
They go extreme even with Cars
Cars in "WELL OF DEATH" a uniquely Indian addition to the performance.
Viewers show them money.
Performers up the danger of the event by grabbing money from the outstretched hand of spectators.
And he got scared with one of the stunt.
View from top, from beside merry-go-round.
This is one of the biggest "Well of death" which exist in India. It is said that only 6 of this kind are in practice.
They just dont perform, they construct their own WELL of death
It was so shocking and equally interesting to see Stuntman them self construct whole of well by their own. It takes a week to construct and 5 days to dismantle whole temporary structure.
stunt-MAN AT WORK
Lunch is being prepared
While cooking he was sharing his worries about future of this "Well of Death" - People no longer coming to visit fairs. Television is the biggest cause, most people would prefer to see daredevil/stunt shows on TV shows & Films. Even Government is doing nothing about this situation. We everyday risk our life to entertain live in front of public but their is no future in this business.
Why do one need ladder?
Man who trained all of them.
"there is a process to train people, first step is get use to the bike, driving outside the well - making rounds on the ground for months. Second step is to sit behind the riders and controlling your mind. And slowly he is allowed to perform once they pass a simple test. Test after which stuntman is allowed to perform in public is as simple as finding and placing a object placed on the ground after the performance to given spot. Control over mind is the only thing which is required in this stunts.