In the final months of 2024, photographer Kavya Krishna embarked on a transformative three-month journey across the United States, aiming to capture the diverse and layered realities of Indian American communities. Her ambitious photo documentary, titled “A Town in America,” took her to several states where she had personal ties. Staying with friends, family acquaintances, and new connections she made along the way, Krishna allowed her path to be shaped by human relationships, building a project that is as much about trust and belonging as it is about photography.
“I stayed with friends, family acquaintances and people I met along the way — each connection leading me to the next,” Krishna said. “This leg of the project became a cross-country portrait shaped by both shared experience and regional nuance. What emerged was a story rooted in landscape, trust and a strong sense of connection. I hope to continue building on this work as the community itself continues to evolve.”
In a conversation with NPR, Krishna detailed the inspiration behind her project, her creative process, and what she has learned while documenting the Indian American experience.
The idea for “A Town in America” first took root in Krishna’s own hometown, located in suburban central Massachusetts. There, she began by photographing her family and the familiar Indian American community around her. However, what started as a personal exploration quickly evolved into a broader inquiry into identity, assimilation, and cultural preservation.
“This project began in my hometown in suburban central Massachusetts, where I started photographing my own family and the Indian American community I grew up around,” Krishna explained. “As it evolved, I became interested in how Indian Americans across the country navigate assimilation, cultural preservation and belonging — especially in suburban spaces shaped by white flight and exclusion.”
She noted that the Indian American community occupies a complicated space in America — often balancing both privilege and invisibility. While these communities are acknowledged demographically, the subtleties of their lived experiences are frequently overlooked.
“The community occupies a unique position, balancing privilege and invisibility in environments that acknowledge their presence but often overlook their lived experience,” she added. “Through domestic, cultural and civic moments, I aimed to document both the shared threads and regional differences that define Indian American life today. At its core, the project challenges monolithic portrayals and highlights the depth, complexity and pride within the community.”
Krishna dedicated three full months at the end of 2024 to travel the country for this work. The initial half of her trip coincided with numerous large-scale Hindu festivals and politically charged events tied to the U.S. election season. These gatherings allowed her to witness and document the energy of collective cultural expression. Later, the journey became more introspective, offering quieter, more personal narratives.
“I spent three months at the end of 2024 traveling across the country for this project,” Krishna said. “The first half of the trip was packed with large-scale Hindu festivals and U.S. election-related events — places where people were gathering, organizing and celebrating. The second half was much quieter and gave me space to seek out more personal, intimate stories. That mix of energy and reflection really shaped the way the project came together.”
Among the many moments she captured, one stands out in particular. A photograph of a young girl named Kaira Uttam, a member of the DreamCricket Dragons team, holding up her cricket bat in triumph after scoring the winning run, remains one of Krishna’s favorites. She had initially encountered the team during a shoot at the DreamCricket Academy in New Jersey. Learning that the team would be in Virginia — where she was also headed — Krishna decided to continue following their journey.
“One of my favorite photos is of Kaira Uttam, a young player on the DreamCricket Dragons, holding up her bat after hitting the winning run of the match,” Krishna recalled. “I first met the team while photographing at DreamCricket Academy in New Jersey. When the coach mentioned they’d be heading to Virginia for a tournament — and I realized I’d be there too — I decided to follow them a bit longer. The girls were so fun and full of life, and I got completely invested in their games.”
She added that when Kaira secured the match victory, the energy was electric. “When Kaira won the match, the whole team ran to her, screaming and celebrating. It was such an exciting moment, and getting to photograph both adolescence and sports in that setting was a highlight of the project.”
Despite being Indian American herself, Krishna found the project to be revelatory in many ways. Her cross-country experience expanded her awareness of just how rich and varied Indian American culture is — not only in terms of regional customs but also in the willingness of people to share their lives and stories.
“Even as someone who grew up Indian American, working on this project revealed how expansive and nuanced the culture truly is,” she said. “While I knew my own experiences, traveling across the country deepened my understanding of the subtle cultural differences and regional customs within the community.”
What struck her the most, she said, was the hospitality and openness of the people she encountered.
“What surprised me most wasn’t just the diversity, but how willing people were to open their homes, share their stories and connect me to others,” Krishna shared. “It reminded me that beyond the images, this project is about trust, generosity and the universal desire to be seen.”
Across a range of settings — from crowded festivals to quiet living rooms — Krishna observed a common thread: the deep human longing for connection, rootedness, and meaning.
“No matter how different the landscapes or personal backgrounds were, there was always a common thread — people’s deep need to belong, to hold on to something meaningful and to find a space where they can be understood,” she said.
Looking ahead, Krishna hopes to expand the project further, continuing to build upon the foundation she has laid. With the Indian American population growing and diversifying, she sees endless possibilities for new stories and deeper engagements.
“I hope to continue deepening my relationships with the people I’ve met and to keep finding new subjects along the way,” she said. “The Indian American community is growing and evolving so quickly — it’s been incredible to witness just how much has changed since I first began this project in my hometown in 2020.”
She concluded by reflecting on the journey of the project from local to national. “What started as something local has expanded into something much bigger, and I’m excited to see how the work can grow alongside the community itself.”
Through “A Town in America,” Kavya Krishna not only captures images, but also the essence of a dynamic community continually navigating identity, connection, and cultural heritage in the modern American landscape.