Photographer Captures Mesmerizing Scenes From Hindu Rituals

Iranian-born photographer Abbas has been capturing culture and religion around the world for nearly half a century. In his latest body of work, the photographer takes viewers into the mystical world of Hinduism with stunning effect.

“Gods I’ve Seen,” published in September by Phaidon , was shot over the course of three years in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bali. The photos feature intimate moments of ritual and religious practice, offering a window into the lives of Hindus throughout these countries.

Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion, with more than 1 billion adherents around the globe, according to Pew Research Center . Often considered to be more of a family of religious traditions rather than one discrete faith, Hinduism traces its roots back more than 4,000 years .

From elephant blessings to goddess worship, Abbas captured a number of contemporary Hindu traditions with ancient roots. Scroll down to see a sampling from “Gods I’ve Seen”: