Ganges River (Ganga)

Thousands of Hindus gather along the Ganges River for the culmination of the Kali Murti festival, Assi Ghat, Varanasi, India

Hindus pray for deceased relatives along the Hooghly River (aka Ganges) during Mahalaya, Babughat, Kolkata, India

Children collect mud from the Hooghly (Ganges) River on a raft made from plastic bottles. The mud will be used by sculptors to make idols for the Durga Puja festival. Near Kumartoli Ghat, Kolkata, India.

Hindus meditate and pray on the Ganges River, 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.

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.

Boys swim and dive in the Ganges River, Peshwas Raja 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 bathes and does laundry in the Ganges River, Chousatti Ghat, Varanasi, India

Do you see the hidden girl?! A family does laundry in the Hooghly River, Babughat, Kolkata, India.

Children collect mud from the Hooghly (Ganges) River on a raft made from plastic bottles. The mud will be used by sculptors to make idols for the Durga Puja festival. Near Kumartoli Ghat, Kolkata, 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.

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.

Boatmen in golden light at sunrise on the Ganges River, Prayag 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.

A man brushes his teeth in the not very clean Hooghly River (also known as the Ganges), Sovabazar Ghat, Kolkata, 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.

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

A sadhu meditates on a ghat along the Ganges River, Katesar, Varanasi, India

Durga Puja idols recovered from the Hooghly River, Nather Bagan, Kolkata, India

Women Hindu pilgrims with shaved heads pray during Ganga Aarti along the Ganges River, 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.

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.

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.

Hindu women offer prayers on the Ganges River, Kedar Ghat, Varanasi, India

A man brushes his teeth in the not very clean Hooghly River (also known as the Ganges), Sovabazar Ghat, 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.

Boats and umbrellas at sunrise on the Ganges, Assi Ghat, Varanasi, India

A sadhu meditates on a ghat along the Ganges River, Katesar, Varanasi, India

Organic garbage and candles in the Ganges River at night, Dashashwamedh 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, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, 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.

A woman prays for deceased relatives during Mahalaya, Kolkata, India

Pilgrims bathing en masse along the Ganges River at the 2013 Kumbh Mela, Allahabad, India.

Portrait of two men along the Ganges River at sunset, 2013 Kumbh Mela, Allahabad, India.

A boatman travels on the Ganges River at night, at the 2013 Kumbh Mela, Allahabad, India.

Pilgrims bathe en masse in the Ganges River at sunset, 2013 Kumbh Mela, Allahabad, India.

A large electrical transmission line on concrete stilts on the Ganges River, Allahabad, India.

Two Hindu women shave their heads and bathe in the Ganges River as part of a religious ritual, Varanasi, India.

Weightlifters on the ghats along the Ganges River, Varanasi, India.

A man with a basket collects something (?) from the Ganges River, Varanasi, India.

Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii) fishing off the line of a boat in the Ganges River, Varanasi, India.

Fishermen pull in a catch on the Ganges River, Varanasi, India.

A boat on the Ganges River carries firewood to Harish Chandra Ghat crematoreum (Burning Ghat), Varanasi, India.

Laundry dries along the Ganges River near Kedar Ghat, Varanasi, India.

Ganga aarti on Dashashwamedh ghat, Varanasi, India.

A farmer washes his water buffalo in the Ganges River near Jain Ghat, Varanasi, India.

Workers beat laundry against stones at a Dhobi Ghat along the Ganges River on a foggy winter morning, Varanasi, India.

Conch shell used for Hindu prayer. Ganga aarti on Dashashwamedh ghat, Varanasi, India.

The pontoon bridge over the Ganges River from Ramnagar Fort to Varanasi, India.

Workers beat laundry against stones at a Dhobi Ghat along the Ganges River on a foggy winter morning, Varanasi, India.

Songbirds (sp.) in a row on a wire on a pump in the Ganges River, Varanasi, India.

Ganga aarti on Dashashwamedh ghat, Varanasi, India.

Boats on the Ganges River, Varanasi, India.

Russian pilgrims on the Ganges River, Varanasi, India.

A horse-drawn carriage crosses a pontoon bridge across the Ganges River at the 2013 Kumbh Mela, Allahabad, India.

A garbage collection boat dumps boat loads of garbage into the Ganges River, Varanasi, India.

A horse gives rides to Indian pilgrims visiting the Ganges River in Varanasi, India.

Sinking temple on the Ganges River near Scindia Ghat, Varanasi, India.

Large swastika on the steps of Jain Ghat, Varanasi, India.

Boats on a foggy winter morning on the Ganges River, Varanasi, India.

Kingfisher (sp.) on a bamboo perch on the Ganges River, Varanasi, India.

Garbage in the Ganges River in Varanasi, India. This is one of the most revered stretches of India's holiest river.

Fishing boats on a foggy winter morning along the Ganges River, Varanasi, India.

Old wooden boats on the Ganges River at the 2013 Kumbh Mela, Allahabad, India.

A man bathes alongside ducks in the Ganges River, Varanasi, India.

A farmer washes his water buffalo in the Ganges River near Jain Ghat, Varanasi, India.

A garbage collection boat dumps boat loads of garbage into the Ganges River, Varanasi, India.

Garbage in the Ganges River in Varanasi, India. This is one of the most revered stretches of India's holiest river.

Men hawk jewelry and souvenirs to Hindu pilgrims riding in boats on the Ganges River, Varanasi, India.

Men hawk jewelry and souvenirs to Hindu pilgrims riding in boats on the Ganges River, Varanasi, India.

Garbage chokes a small stream flowing into the Ganges River near Nagwa Ghat, Varanasi, India.

Pastel boats along the Ganges River on a foggy morning, Varanasi, India.

Garbage chokes a small stream flowing into the Ganges River near Nagwa Ghat, Varanasi, India.

Large swastika on the steps of Jain Ghat, Varanasi, India.

Heavy winter morning fog on the Ganges River, Varanasi, India.

Colorful Lal Ghat, Varanasi, India.

Ahilyabai and Prayag Ghats, Varanasi, India.

Ganga aarti on Dashashwamedh ghat, Varanasi, India.

Birds (sp.) on a boat on the Ganges River, Varanasi, India.