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Varanasi (Benares) by Ian Selbie

The Ganges river, Varanasi - sunrise at the Bathing Ghat	Sunrise over the Ganges, Varanasi. People performing their morning exercises on the roof of a building are visible through a doorway in the wall	The Ganges river, Varanasi - Chet Singh Ghat in the early morning sun	Palace on the Ganges river, Varanasi
The Ganges river, Varanasi - tourists float serenely down the river just after dawn	The Ganges river, Varanasi - soon after sunrise and the Bathing Ghats are altready teeming	There are thousands of large and small shrines and lingas in Varanasi - at, above and below the present water level. Everyday life goes on as they watch	The Ganges river, Varanasi - preparing to bathe in the sacred waters
Men share a joke while washing clothes	The Ganges river, Varanasi - a "sadhu" - most likely a business proposition rather than a holy mission, gets a foot massage. Even sadhus get sore feet?	Carrying crates of fish to the market, Varanasi	At the fish market, packing the fish in ice, Varanasi
Sadhu on the Ghat by the Ganges at Varanasi, will bestow a blessing for 50 rupees	Meditating prior to bathing in the Ganges	Priest offering blessings at Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi	Boats on the Ganges at dawn, Varanasi
The Ganges river, Varanasi - bathing in the sacred waters in the early morning	Beggars hoping for alms line the steps up from Dashashwamedh Ghat	Old man washing, Mir Ghat, Varanasi	The level of the Ganges fluctuates by more than 10 metres between the monsoon and dry seasons. As the highest waters recede they leave deposits of silt that have to be hosed away by contractors in a never ending cycle
Further up the Ganges from Varanasi the water level is low, leaving dried cracked mud	A thoughtful goat rests on the steps of the Ghat	Boatmen resting by the side of the Ganges as the sun gets higher	Shaving the heads of children and adults is a symbol of purification before bathing in the Ganges. Here the children are shaving the elders
Shaving the child's hair	There are many barbers on the Ghats offering shaving and haircuts	Dhoby-wallah ironing clothes the old fashioned way	Behind the scenes in old Varanasi the working conditions are not pleasant. These men work in near darkness grinding small metal components.
Silk weaver works in a room just big enough to hold the loom, Varanasi	Drying saris on the Ghats after washing in the Ganges, Varanasi	Boys playing cricket at Man Mandir Ghat	Dressed as Kali and on the way to the Ghats to collect donations, Varanasi
Dressed up as Kali to collect a rupee or two, by the Ganges, Varanasi	Selling caged birds on the streets of Varanasi	Dressed up as Shiva on the way to the ghats to collect money	Approaching the Manikarnika cremation ghat, we can see the eagles soaring above
The body is placed on layers of wood, then further layers are piled on top. Ghee and sandalwood oils are poured to speed the flames, then the sacred flame is applied	It takes several hours for the corpse to be consumed and the staff continually tend to the flames and turn the flesh to maximise the rate of consumption	This old man lies meditating near the cremation fire. Is he a flesh-eating Agori or a simple ascetic looking for purity far from the world of the living?	This old man lies meditating near the cremation fire. Is he a flesh-eating Agori or a simple ascetic looking for purity far from the world of the living?
The old ascetic has moved closer to the ashes of the funeral fire	In the narrow streets of Old Varanasi there are many small shrines and worshippers	In a narrow street of Old Varanasi a Sadhu has set up on the pavement	Child playing in an alley near the silk factory, Varanasi
Small, rather dark and crowded temple, Varanasi	Ringing the bells upon entry to the Temple, Varanasi	The streets are crowded with pedestrians, pedicabs and motorised vehicles, Varanasi	Roadside dentist, Varanasi
Balcony overlooking the street, Varanasi	Angels above a door lintel in old Varanasi	In the crowded lanes of old Varanasi are some amazing sights including these beautiful tiles and sanskrit inscriptions	In the crowded lanes of old Varanasi are some amazing sights including these beautiful tiles and sanskrit inscriptions
Everyday life in the narrow streets of old Varanasi: the old man has let his milk boil over but seems more amused than upset	Shopkeeper peers from the darkness of his shop, old Varanasi	Crowds press by in the narrow and sometimes dark lanes, with the occasional sunbeam	Shopkeeper boiling curds, old Varanasi
This old woman sits by the textiles on display but seems to be oblivious to passersby and potential buyers	This old woman sits by the textiles on display but seems to be oblivious to passersby and potential buyers	Working on the sewers, old Varanasi	Beggar woman and sick child, Varanasi
At the Akhara (Traditional Gymnasium)	At the Akhara (Traditional Gymnasium)	At the Akhara (Traditional Gymnasium)	At the Akhara (Traditional Gymnasium)
At the Akhara (Traditional Gymnasium)	At the Akhara (Traditional Gymnasium)	At the Akhara (Traditional Gymnasium)	At the Akhara (Traditional Gymnasium)
At the Akhara (Traditional Gymnasium)	At the Akhara (Traditional Gymnasium)	At the Akhara (Traditional Gymnasium)	In the countryside near Varanasi: the early morning mist and the trees could almost be in Europe
In the countryside near Varanasi: different tools are used for chopping fodder depending on the available cash. The weathiest can use electricity, the mddle use hand-cranked machines, the poorest a simple chopper. This old lady is in the latter category and reminds me of the Grim Reaper	In the countryside near Varanasi: smoke from the open fire trickles out of a mud hut	In the countryside near Varanasi: a buffalo is a very significant asset for the family, but somehow the relationship seems warmer than just a financial interest	In the countryside near Varanasi: Grandmother and children
In the countryside near Varanasi: Grandmother and children	In the countryside near Varanasi: Why does he want to photograph me?	In the countryside near Varanasi: the darkened eyes are to protect from the "evil eye"	In the countryside near Varanasi: stick toothbrush
Village school near Varanasi	Village school near Varanasi	Village school near Varanasi	Village school near Varanasi
Village school near Varanasi	Village school near Varanasi	Village school near Varanasi	Village school near Varanasi
Village school near Varanasi	In the countryside near Varanasi: all villages and many households have their wells from which water for every purpose is pumped	In the countryside near Varanasi: children playing with the remains of a motorcycle	In the countryside near Varanasi: making dung pats to dry in the sun for fuel
In the countryside near Varanasi: at the village pump	In the countryside near Varanasi: unsure whether they want to be in the photo or not?	In the countryside near Varanasi: making small drinking bowls at the roadside	Further up the Ganges from Varanasi a river ferry is loaded up with people, bicycles, motorcycles, goods and animals
Further up the Ganges from Varanasi a river ferry is loaded up with people, bicycles, motorcycles, goods and animals	In the countryside near Varanasi: women planting small trees