Inside the Indian kitchen

Date posted: 17 June 2020

Indian women in a kitchen making chapati

One of the best things about my job is that the camera has taken me to all sorts of places that I would never have had the opportunity to be otherwise. One of these places has been the kitchen at the Sikh Temple in Grays, Essex.

Photos by Peter Carruthers

I have been fortunate to have been invited to the Temple a few times now to capture religious festivals and family celebrations for the Grewell family. And each time, I find myself being drawn to the kitchen

I love capturing the vibrant colours, the lively atmosphere, and buzz of activity. Whether it's washing up, preparing or serving food - everybody helps to provide food for the community and you get the overwhelming sense that this is a place of safety for everyone, not just for Sikhs, but any member of the local community in need of some food or company.

You can’t help but smile when you’re surrounded by the deep frying pakora and chapati being made by an army of smiling women. It’s a place of absolute joy and one I always thoroughly enjoy photographing

Here are some of my favourite photos that capture the atmosphere of the kitchen.

Indian woman in a kitchen looking to the side