12/13/23

India: Varanasi

Varanasi has miles of Ganges River frontage with dozens of ghats, or steps, each with what seems like a specific purpose - religious bathing, cremations, morning or nightly prayers, etc. Varanasi is also a major pilgrimage site for Hindus, and if able, all Hindus should visit at least once in their current lifetime

 

On the river past the cremation site, a dozen cremations were happening at the same time.


Primary evening prayer site for mother Ganges. Every evening seven priests go through a ritual in unison.



This man is an Aghori. They usually engage in post-mortem rituals, often dwell in charnel grounds, smear cremation ashes on their bodies, and use bones from human corpses for crafting cups and jewelry… the population of Aghoris has dramatically decreased over the years


This woman Is saying prayers to the rising Sun. She scoops up water and releases it back into the river



Cremation site in the morning, still fairly busy


 Pilgrims from south India


 


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