Instagram, on Thursday launched its first ever photo exhibition in India held in the city of Kolkata, at the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. Themed, ‘Bengal’s Diversity in Pictures’, the exhibition showcases a diverse range of images and stories captured by the Instagram community hailing from the culture rich state of Bengal. The three-day photo exhibition runs from January 7 to 9, 2016 and was inaugurated by Derek O’Brien, Member of Parliament and Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party Leader, Rajya Sabha.
 
From beautiful landscapes to people, food, festivals, wildlife, architecture, and more, the exhibition conveys the multiple facets of life unique to the state of Bengal. The visual documentation of these moments on Instagram by the Indian community demonstrates how people are increasingly using images to communicate and experience the world around them. With 80 million photos posted on Instagram every day, if something is happening, it is likely being captured on Instagram, taking these images to the world across cultural and language barriers.
 
Members of the Instagram community featured in this exhibition constitute a group of 17 individuals from Kolkata across various age groups and professional backgrounds, united in their passion to capture inspiring moments and stories from their personal perspective. "Instagram worked with the local community - Instagram Calcutta (@ig_calcutta) - to curate images which reflected the theme of diversity in Bengal.” 
 
“Every day, people come to Instagram to be transported, to be inspired, and to learn something new about the world around them. By holding our first photo exhibition in India focused on Bengal, we want to shine a light on the diversity of voices and visual storytelling by the community on Instagram,” said Ankhi Das, Public Policy Director – India, South & Central Asia, Facebook.
 
"The cultural diversity, energy and vibrancy of Bengal is perfectly portrayed through this Instagram exhibition. Bengal is rich in diversity and creativity and this exhibition serves as an important reminder of the inspiring people, food, architecture and wildlife we have on our doorstep," said Derek O'Brien, Member of Parliament and Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party Leader, Rajya Sabha.
 
Listed below are the links to the Instagram images selected to be displayed at the exhibition:
 
1. Anindito Mukherjee, 31 years, Photojournalist at Reuters -https://www.instagram.com/p/_eph3GjILb/

Image: A waiter dressed in a classic white uniform, rushes up the stairs of Kolkata's own Starbucks! The College Street Coffee house with its Victorian charm and classic menu still is a popular hangout, for artists, intellectuals and the young generation of the city. Shot at Indian Coffee House, College Street Kolkata
 
2. Arghya Chatterjee, 36 years, Photographer -https://www.instagram.com/p/BABuTJ2pCmT/

Image: This Photo was taken at Purulia, Near Ayodhya Hill with a Background of seasonal flowers named "Kash". The Dance is known as "Chhau Dance". In the photo the Masked Dancer is enjoying his role as a "Warrior"
 
3. Arpita Pramanick, 24 years, Graphic Designer - https://instagram.com/p/_1ame1xsT3/

Image: The photograph was shot at Mullick Ghat, Howrah, Kolkata during summer. In this image, we see local children playing and jumping into the Ganges, in front of the Howrah bridge.
 
4. Debarshi Duttagupta, 39 years, Self-employed businessman -https://www.instagram.com/p/_22Tx0qdDa/

Image: This image was taken in a place called Gadiara, in West Bengal, India, on the banks of River Roopnarayan.
 
5. Debiprasad Mukherjee, 32 years, Business Consultant -https://www.instagram.com/p/_7Tc9anEgs/

Image: This photograph was shot at Burrabazar, Kolkata on the occasion of Holi.
 
6. Indrajit Lahiri, 38 years, Business Consultant (IT) -https://www.instagram.com/p/_yzbakpBzz/
Image: This shot was taken on one of Indrajit’s foodwalks during the time of Ramzan in 2015 in the Chitpur area, near Nakhoda Masjid. The person pictured is selling a very famous bread variety (mostly available during Ramzan time) named Sheermal and Bakarkhani to his eager customers.
 
7. Kushal Gangopadhyay, 55 years, Service Professional -https://www.instagram.com/p/_85x5slV_X/

Image: This photograph was taken in Kakdwip in South 24 Parganas district in the state of West Bengal, a few years back. Kushal was pleased to seei the girls in rural India taking so much interest in their education, that even the continuing monsoon depression did not deter them from commuting inconveniently to their school.
 
8. Madhabendu Hensh, 29 years, Photographer -https://www.instagram.com/p/_ybSV_lQL1/

Image: Madhabendu shot this image back in 2014 monsoon when he visited Digha, a beach in West Bengal. Digha is one of the most tourist-friendly places in West Bengal. Though it's overcrowded, he found these two ladies beside the sea. They ignored him, just as they ignored the drizzle. He found this moment pretty interesting.
 
9. Niladri Adhikary, 29 years, Banker - https://www.instagram.com/p/_3M-HSvIt0/

Image: It was captured at Herobhanga Village near Canning, West Bengal during Moi-Charan (Bull Racing) Festival.
 
10. Pinak Pramanik, 28 years, Government Service -https://www.instagram.com/p/_2L42sIyDQ/

Image: Pinak took this picture in the immersion ceremony of the Goddess Durga at the last day of the great festival of Bengal - Durga Puja or Pujo. This picture was taken at Guptipara, Hoogley district, West Bengal.
 
11. Praveen Chetri, 27 years, Freelance Photographer - https://www.instagram.com/p/_86iS7yDs-/

Image: Praveen shot this image on his travel to Lava, a small tourist destination in Kalimpong, famous for its natural beauty. He was drawn to the sheer beauty and innocence smile of this kids.
 
12. Ronny Sen, 29 years, Photographer/Artist - https://www.instagram.com/p/8GmoqmitNO/

Image: It's about a Japanese choreographer and martial arts specialist Akiko Kitamura who was performing in the streets of Calcutta. Ronny was photographing her work here. The photograph is more about her than it is about himself.
 
13. Sammya Brata Mullick, 27 years, Consultant - https://www.instagram.com/p/9iK4hHQpX0/

Image: In this image, Sammya captures the weathered hands of a local artist painting an image of the Goddess Durga with Lord Ganesha seated in her lap, during the local festival of Durga Puja.
 
14. Soumya Shankar Ghosal, 36 years, Management Consultant -https://www.instagram.com/p/_9ljpsIRBR/

Image: This was photographed from a Madrasah opposite the Nakhoda Mosque at Chitpur, Rabindra Sarani in Kolkata, on the eve of Eid. In spite of the festive mood, the old gentleman offers his devotional Namaz.
 
15. Soumyodeep Mukherjee, 25 years, Student -https://www.instagram.com/p/9IoG1YSqsH/

Image: This photo was taken near Soumyodeep’s home at Sonarpur during the immersion rally of Durga Puja.
 
16. Supriyo Ranjan Sarkar, 36 years, Businessman -https://www.instagram.com/p/_3dbA1x57C/

Image: There is a close relation between man, river and forest in Sundarban. Dire poverty urges the people of Sundarbans to frequent the forest and the river in search of livelihood. They take the risk for fishing and enter the forest to collect honey and fuel wood.
 
17. Swaroop Singha Roy, 21 years, Student - https://www.instagram.com/p/-MmrDdhdvB/

Image: This photograph titled ‘The Headmaster’ of a Buffy Fish Owl perched on a branch was shot during Swaroop’s trip Sundarban National Park.