In Pictures: India This Week (29 Jan 2017 to 3 Feb 2017)

Members of the Indian military band take part in the Beating Retreat ceremony in New Delhi on 29 January 2017. (Photo Courtesy: Reuters/Cathal McNaughton)

Beating the retreat, a transgender model making history, preparations for Saraswati pooja, late Jayalalithaa’s charm continues amongst cadre, coping with winters and more. Beyond the headlines and behind the scenes, The Quint brings you a snapshot of India this week.

A woman searches for lice in the hair of her pet monkey named Ramu, on the banks of river Ganges in Kolkata. (Photo: Reuters/Rupak De Chowdhuri)

Anjali Lama, a transgender model from Nepal, sits backstage as she waits to take part in a rehearsal during Lakmé Fashion week in Mumbai, India. To model for Lakmé Fashion Week, one of the highlights of India’s fashion calendar, is Lama’s big moment. (Photo:AP/Rafiq Maqbool)

Vendors sell marigold garlands used to decorate homes and temporary platforms during the festival of Saraswati Puja in Kolkata. (Photo: Reuters/Rupak De Chowdhuri)

AIADMK MPs with the late J Jayalalithaa’s photographs in their pockets at Parliament house in New Delhi on Friday during the budget session. (Photo: PTI Photo/Manvender Vashist)

Farmers sprinkle fertilizers on a paddy fields on the outskirts of Ahmedabad. (Photo: Reuters/Amit Dave)

Sadhus offer prayers while sitting inside circles of burning “Upale” on the occasion to mark the Basant or spring festival, on the banks of river Ganges in Allahabad. (Photo: Reuters/Jitendra Prakash)

Homeless people sit on a pavement anticipating distribution of free food from a charity in the old quarters of New Delhi. (Photo: AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal)

A man looks on as he lights fire to warm himself up alongside a road in Ahmedabad. (Photo: Reuters/Amit Dave)

Check out all the photo essays in the ‘India This Week’ series.