Ghat in red. Varanasi

After been washed in the Ganges, time to dry on the ghat.

Ghat scenery. Varanasi

A brahmane is doing his daily puja, a pilgrim with a Shiva collar is praying, while a woman is washing her sari after the holy bath.

Rickshaw. Varanasi

Wood for cremation. Varanasi

All around Manikarnika ghat is the wood business for the cremations. Different qualities are proposed, but even with the baddest, it's really a problem for many families.

Drying. Varanasi

Gipsy musicians. Varanasi

Playing music for a wedding on the ghat.

Going to Ganga. Varanasi

In the crossing, the burning tree is for holy celebration.

Light. Varanasi

Couple. Varanasi

It was after the holy bath, among the saris drying on the ghat; they were from Ahmedabad if I remember well and were about to move.
He insisted to offer me a cup of tea before leaving.

Seller. Varanasi

Shiva's protection. Varanasi

Mornig puja. Varanasi

A woman is dressing after the holy bath , while a priest is doing the morning puja dedicated to Ganga.

Morning puja. Varanasi

Just walking. Varanasi

Floating offering. Varanasi

Holy water. Varanasi

Corolla. Varanasi

Water lily or lotus flowers?

Offerings. Varanasi

Flowers offered to the Ganga during the pujas. So many pilgrims here that everyday the offerings grow and grow on the banks.
Some people recuperate them to sell again..but you can find also plastic bags, aluminium cups...

Wrestler. Varanasi

Motherhood. Varanasi

No distinction on the ghats, rich as well as poor people come here for the Ganga pujas, or to find some opportunity.

Ganga bank scene. Varanasi

Boatmen and pilgrims have to share the Ganga ghat; the first ones are not always very kind with the seconds...

Shaving ceremony. Varanasi

Just before he holy bath, purification and hair offering ; three boys in this family, one is waiting his turn.

Sweeping. Varanasi

Holy water. Varanasi

Bath. Varanasi

Holy bath in ganga before the shaving. shaving the hair is an offering to god and a purification.

Hands. Varanasi

Yellow. Varanasi

Running out of Ganga. Varanasi

the boy does not seem to appreciate the holy bath in Ganga!!!

The seller and the Vespa. Varanasi

When you leave the ghat area, you find another world.

Milk. Varanasi

Puja. Varanasi

King kong II. Varanasi

Street scene. Varanasi

Searching their way; Varanasi

Walking in Ganga is a little bit dangerous; frequently women help themselves while going to the holy bath place.

Street scene. Varanasi

being connected with gods does not prevent to be interested by the daily news...

Holy bath. Varanasi

I must say that the young boy did not appreciate the bath as a holy one...mostly as a very cold one with the water coming in both mouth and nose!

Devotion. Varanasi

Puja for a new born.

Mornig puja. Varanasi

A brahmane doing a morning puja in the Ganga. The rope is for a boat, I found that it added to the composition.

Holy water. Varanasi

The dog devotee. Varanasi

In India, the dog is a badly considered animal, in opposition with many others who have their god: Hanuman, Ganesh...
This one was trying to find something eatable among the offerings.

Ganga mud. Varanasi

Holding the wire for security, she just took some mud in the Ganga to make a god figure, one of the puja ritual.

Praying Ganesh. Varanasi

Puja for Ganesh; this is the basic posture when you pray the elephant god.

The nice motorbike. Varanasi

In the chowks, a vintage.

On the way to Manikarnika ghat. Varanasi

..were the body will be burned, no ladys allowed; behind, a pan seller

Family's devotion. Varanasi

Ganga puja. Varanasi

Gipsy musicians. Varanasi

For a wedding on the ghat, gipsy musicians are playing drums.

Reading the mantras. Varanasi

The old lady. Varanasi

The day after holi, you can see the splashing color on the shop wall behind the old lady head.

Silhouette. Varanasi

Near a temple in a back street, not so far from Manikarnika ghat, the cremation one.