Ganges River (Ganga)

A group of women carry out a prayer on the Ganges River, Assi Ghat, Varanasi, India

A group of women carry out a prayer on the Ganges River, Assi Ghat, Varanasi, India

A group of women carry out a prayer on the Ganges River, Assi Ghat, Varanasi, India

Birds peck at orange marigold flowers at the Howrah Flower Market, commonly referred to as the largest flower market in Asia. Near Howrah Bridge along the Hooghly River, Kolkata, India.

Orange marigold flowers at the Howrah Flower Market, commonly referred to as the largest flower market in Asia. Near Howrah Bridge along the Hooghly River, Kolkata, India.

Orange marigold flowers at the Howrah Flower Market, commonly referred to as the largest flower market in Asia. Near Howrah Bridge along the Hooghly River, Kolkata, India.

A man searches for money among debris in the Ganges river, Haridwar, India

Diwali aarti on Har Ki Pauri ghat, Haridwar, India

A man pans for money among debris in the Ganges river, Haridwar, India

Boys search for money in the Ganges River, Haridwar, India

Diwali aarti on Har Ki Pauri ghat, Haridwar, India

A man searches for money among debris in the Ganges river, Haridwar, India

Diwali aarti on Har Ki Pauri ghat, Haridwar, India

A man pans for money among debris in the Ganges river, Haridwar, India

Women cross the Ganges River, Haridwar, India

Boys play in the Ganges River near a large statue of Shiva, Haridwar, India

Diwali aarti on Har Ki Pauri ghat, Haridwar, India

Ashrams and hotels on the Ganges River, Haridwar, India

A girl walks across a ghat in the Ganges River, Haridwar, India

Hindu pilgrims perform rituals during Diwali in Haridwar, India

Diwali aarti on Har Ki Pauri ghat, Haridwar, India

Women pray in the Ganges River, Haridwar, India

Broken idol in the Ganges River sand, Haridwar, India

A man launches a diya on the Ganges River, Haridwar, India

Ganga Temple at Birla Ghat on the Ganges River, Haridwar, India

Boys play in the Ganges River near an idol of the river goddess Ma Ganga, Haridwar, India

A girl walks across a ghat in the Ganges River, Haridwar, India

Diwali aarti on Har Ki Pauri ghat, Haridwar, India

Boys search for money in the Ganges River, Haridwar, India

A man poses for a photo in the Ganges River, Haridwar, India

Diwali aarti on Har Ki Pauri ghat, Haridwar, India

Idol of the goddess Ma Ganga on the Ganges River, Haridwar, India

Hindu devotees await sunrise on the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.

Hindu devotees await sunrise on the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.

Boys swim and dive in the Ganges River, Peshwas Raja Ghat, Varanasi, India

Father and son in the Hooghly River during Mahalaya, Babughat, Kolkata, India

Hindu families immerse idols of the goddess Durga in the Hooghly River at night during the Durga Puja festival, Babughat, Kolkata, India

Durga idols are recovered from the Hooghly River after being immersed during the Durga Puja idols, Babughat, Kolkata, India. The idols are recovered to avoid polluting the river. They're made from straw and river clay, but the paints are not eco-friendly.

Steep staircase along the Ganges River, Assi Ghat, Varanasi, India

A woman prays at sunset along the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.

Ganga Aarti evening prayers to the Ganges River, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India

Durga idols are immersed in the Hooghly River during the Durga Puja festival, Babughat, Kolkata, India

Durga idols are recovered from the Hooghly River after being immersed during the Durga Puja idols, Babughat, Kolkata, India. The idols are recovered to avoid polluting the river. They're made from straw and river clay, but the paints are not eco-friendly.

A family prepares to immerse their idol of Kali in the Ganges River during the Kali Mutri festival, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India

A woman prays on the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.

Hindus pray for deceased relatives during Mahalaya, Babughat, Kolkata, India

An Indian photographer shoots a very handsome goat, Assi Ghat, Varanasi, India

Hindus attend Ganga Aarti along the Ganges River, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India

Women Hindu pilgrims with shaved heads pray during Ganga Aarti along the Ganges River, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India

Durga idols are recovered from the Hooghly River after being immersed during the Durga Puja idols, Babughat, Kolkata, India. The idols are recovered to avoid polluting the river. They're made from straw and river clay, but the paints are not eco-friendly.

A woman prays on the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.

A man dives into the Ganges River, Tulsi Ghat, Varanasi, India

A woman releases a candle into the Ganges River, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India

A woman prays on the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.

A man dives into the Ganges River, Tulsi Ghat, Varanasi, India

Ganga Aarti, a nightly prayer to the Ganges River that takes place at Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India

Ladies pray at sunset along the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.

A girl releases a candle onto the Ganges River during Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India

Father and son in the Hooghly River during Mahalaya, Babughat, Kolkata, India

Hindus pray for deceased relatives during Mahalaya, Babughat, Kolkata, India

Father and son in the Hooghly River during Mahalaya, Babughat, Kolkata, India

Women bathe in the Ganges River. Their feet are yellow because they've been covered in Turmeric to prevent infection from the heavily polluted water in the Ganges, Tulsi Ghat, Varanasi, India.

Offerings on the banks of the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.

Ganga Aarti, a nightly prayer to the Ganges River that takes place at Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India

Children fly kites at night on the Ganges River, Prayag Ghat, Varanasi, India

Offerings on the banks of the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.

Street dogs on Munshi Ghat, Varanasi, India. Varanasi has a huge stray dog population.

Beautiful family portrait at night on the street in Beniatola, Kolkata, India

A woman prays at sunset along the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.

Durga idols are recovered from the Hooghly River after being immersed during the Durga Puja idols, Babughat, Kolkata, India. The idols are recovered to avoid polluting the river. They're made from straw and river clay, but the paints are not eco-friendly.

Painted ceramic heads from Hindu idols are reclaimed after being pulled from the Hooghly River, Babughat, Kolkata, India. The idols are immersed in the river during the Durga Puja festival, then immediately pulled out by workers to avoid polluting the river.

A worker sprays water to clear out mud from recent flooding of the Ganges River, Assi Ghat, Varanasi, India

Boys swim and dive in the Ganges River, Peshwas Raja Ghat, Varanasi, India

Ganga Aarti, a nightly prayer to the Ganges River that takes place at Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India

Ladies pray in the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.

Offerings on the banks of the Ganges River during Chhath Puja, Varanasi, India. Chhath Puja is a devotion to the Sun God Surya in which people gather at sunset and then on the following sunrise and offer prayers.

Men prepare candleabras for the Ganga Aarti, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India

Durga idols are immersed in the Hooghly River during the Durga Puja festival, Babughat, Kolkata, India

Women touch the shaved head of a boy with a swastika painted on it during prayers along the Ganges River, Varanasi, India

Hindu families immerse idols of the goddess Durga in the Hooghly River at night during the Durga Puja festival, Babughat, Kolkata, India

Men prepare candleabras for the Ganga Aarti, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India