Making Tezpur and North East India proud, Shivani Tibrewal, a 52-year-old entrepreneur and amateur photographer from Tezpur, has earned global recognition by winning the Noteworthy Contribution Award at Wiki Loves Folklore 2025, one of the world’s biggest cultural photography contests. She is the first person from North East to achieve this honour.
Shivani’s award-winning photograph, titled “Golden Reverence”, beautifully captures the Bhandara Festival in Jejuri, Pune, where devotees cover the temple of Lord Khandoba in golden clouds of turmeric powder. The image was praised internationally for its cultural richness, technical skill, and emotional storytelling.
The 2025 edition of Wiki Loves Folklore saw 1,912 participants from 142 countries, with over 85,000 cultural images contributed to Wikimedia Commons. Winners were chosen on the basis of cultural value, creativity, and storytelling. Along with the honour, Shivani received a certificate, a $50 gift coupon, and the contest’s official T-shirt.
A Journey Born from Lockdown
Interestingly, Shivani began her journey in photography during the Covid-19 lockdown, initially using the camera as a way to break monotony. Over the years, her style evolved into a unique blend of human emotions and vibrant cultural contexts, often highlighted with natural light for authenticity. Her works have also been published in leading Assamese and national magazines.
Other Achievements
Shivani’s recent milestones include:
- Recognition in the Blue Earth Circuit 2025 (endorsed by FIAP & FIP)
- Awards at the Malwa International Salon 2025
- Third place in SnapIndia’s national photography contest
Apart from her photography passion, Shivani is known for her philanthropy. She serves as the Chairperson of the Rotary Club of Greater Tezpur’s “Gift of Life” program, which funds life-saving heart surgeries for children from underprivileged families in reputed hospitals across India.
She describes her life philosophy simply:
“Photography takes me places, travel fills my soul, and service to others gives it meaning. Together, they create the picture of my life.”
About Wiki Loves Folklore
Launched in 2019 by the Wikimedia community, the contest aims to document and preserve the world’s intangible cultural heritage, including festivals, folk art, traditional clothing, oral traditions, and performing arts.
