Harivansh Verma's Ganga Dussehra Phone Photo Captures Street Vendor's Struggle

Indian photographer Harivansh Verma captured a street vendor's weary expression against a backdrop of smiley-face balloons during Ganga Dussehra in Haridwar. The image, titled The Weight of Joy, was shot on a Realme 14 Pro and published as part of The Guardian's best phone picture series. Verma was strolling along the Ganges at Har Ki Pauri ghat in the early evening when he encountered the young man. After asking permission, he took the shot, struck by the contrast between the balloons' cheerful faces and the vendor's worried look. Verma noted the man carried a heavy weight of worry and responsibility, and that the frame held two different stories. He hopes viewers will first smile, then pause to wonder about the subject's life. The photograph is dated 2026.