Photo Gallery: Faces of India -- National Geographic

Young Boy, Kolkata (Calcutta)
Photograph by Satyaki Basu, My Shot
The ethnic groups of India are as varied as the landscapes of the sweeping Asian subcontinent—Bengalis, Punjabis, Gujaratis, Nagas, Sora, and others add up to nearly 1.2 billion people, making India the world's second most populous country. Pictured here: A young boy dressed as the Hindu deity Lord Krishna
Musician
Photograph by Jason Florio, Aurora Photos
A band member returns home by train after performing at a wedding.
Man, Jodhpur
Photograph by Nam Prasad Satsangi, My Shot
With neatly wound turban and beard and mustache carefully swept back, a man keeps his cool in Jodhpur, the second largest city in Rajasthan state.
Children, Pushkar
Photograph by Annette Thompson, My Shot
Dressed as the Hindu deity Shiva and his consort, Parvati, children beg for money from tourists in Pushkar.
Man, Kolkata
Photograph by Peter Velter, My Shot
It's estimated that there are more than 2,000 ethnic groups in India. It's also a country of many religions. More than 80 percent of Indians are Hindu.
Sikhs
Photograph by Charles Meacham, My Shot
In 2008, Sikhs across India celebrated 300 years of the guruship of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. This holy book is treated as a living guru.
Woman, Rajasthan
Photograph by Lou Souza, My Shot
A brightly veiled woman visits the Karni Mata temple in Bikaner, Rajasthan. The Hindu temple is famous for the thousands of rats that live there, dining on sweets, grain, and milk called laddu.
Young Man, Rajasthan
Photograph by Simon Lister, My Shot
Green cloth draws out the piercing eyes of a young man from Rajasthan, the largest state in India.
Man, Kolkata
Photograph by Peter Velter, My Shot
Modern accessories add flash to a traditional street scene in Kolkata, capital of the state of West Bengal.
Woman, New Delhi
Photograph by Saswata Bhattacharya, My Shot
A street vendor's colored glass bangles frame her face. The Indian capital, New Delhi is one of nine districts that make up the metropolis of Delhi.
Soldiers
Photograph by Tim Robertson, My Shot
A military parade celebrates Republic Day, the January 26 anniversary of India's adoption of its constitution.
Chithirai Festival
Photograph by Arun Kumar, My Shot
A celebrant gets into the spirit at the Chithirai festival in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. The days-long festival celebrates the wedding of Lord Shiva and the goddess Meenakshi (Lord Vishnu's sister).
Child, Gokarn
Photograph by Neven Grujic, My Shot
A child joins the crowd at the Shivratri festival in Gokarn, a village in Karnataka state. Festivalgoers leave offerings for the Hindu deity Lord Shiva.
Rajasthan Orphanage
Photograph by Paul Kline, My Shot
Two women clean the kitchen of a Rajasthan orphanage after the lunch meal.
Beggars, Mumbai
Photograph by Steve McCurry
Half of Mumbai's 12 million inhabitants live in shantytowns, and many of them—like this mother and child—survive by begging.
Woman
Photograph by Neha Parmar, My Shot
Desert sands stretch out beyond a woman in colorful traditional dress and jewelry.
Girl, Pushkar
Photograph by Ron Johns
A street musician's daughter rests in Pushkar, one of the oldest cities in Rajasthan state and India itself.
Men, Pushkar
Photograph by Neven Grujic, My Shot
Friends share a stoop in Pushkar during the annual mela, or fair. Originally a camel trading event, the mela has grown to include cultural events and even a camel beauty pageant.