Burning & Learning in Varanasi

About this series

I met a pilgrim on the train from Chennai (Madras) to Varanasi who defined Varanasi as a ‘spiritual place for burning and learning’ in India.

The small twisted lanes of the old city of Varanasi open out to the majestic presence of the Ganges. For a week this spiritual junction provided a breathtaking ensemble of experiences that is uniquely Indian.

These few images focus on the ghats that lead down to the Ganges where I was drawn to the enchanting mix of bathing, meditation, song, worship and Hindu cremation taking place at different times of the day.

The images were taken in January 1985 on Kodachrome Transparency.