Brett Cole Photography | Varanasi Photo Gallery

A tourist looks after an injured street dog with a large maggot wound on its shoulder, Varanasi, India. I had a rescue center come get the dog but it died a few hours later.

A homeless boy sleeps on a step at night while people walk past him, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India.

Pujari wave incense and bells during Ganga Aarti, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India

A huge idol of Kali is carried during the Kali Murti festival, Varanasi, India. It will be marched into the streets where thousands of people will work themselves into a frenzy with drumming and fireworks.

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 mechanic work with motor oil, Birdopur, Varanasi, India

A man bathes and does laundry in the Ganges River, Chousatti Ghat, Varanasi, India

Random cosmic art in the , Assi Ghat, Varanasi, India

Weathered door and brick wall, Shivala, Varanasi, India

Portrait of a Sadhu or holy man, Meer Ghat, Varanasi, India

Weathered door and brick wall, Shivala, Varanasi, India

A woman crafts small mud scupltures adorned with flowers as part of a Hindu prayer, Assi Ghat, Varanasi, India

Elixirs for sale, Bangali Tola, 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.

Candles at a temple, Bangali Tola, Varanasi, India

Trash in the Ganges River, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, 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.

Weathered sign for an organic baskery, Katesar, Varanasi, India

Boatmen in golden light at sunrise on the Ganges River, Prayag Ghat, Varanasi, India

A mechanic work with motor oil, Birdopur, Varanasi, India

Here's something you definitely won't see everyday. A huge idol of Kali is prepared far off the beaten track during the Kali Murti festival, Varanasi, India. It will be marched into the streets where thousands of people will work themselves into a frenzy with drumming and fireworks.

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.

Students pray at a school in Varanasi, India operated by Dutch NGO Duniya (duniya.org)

Pujari perfrom Ganga Aarti along the Ganges River, 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.

Captive Red Macaque monkey made to perform for Indian tourists, 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.

A toddler prays on the Ganges River at Assi Ghat, Varanasi, India

A man receives a blessing during Kali Murti, Varanasi, India

Pujari wave incense and bells during Ganga Aarti, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India

Children participate in a karate class, Dumraon Colony, Varanasi, India

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

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

A street dog sleeps in a dilapidated wooden boat, Chousatti 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 huge idol of Kali is carried during the Kali Murti festival, Varanasi, India. It will be marched into the streets where thousands of people will work themselves into a frenzy with drumming and fireworks.

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

View into a mysterous looking bedroom in a house, Prayag Ghat, Varanasi, India

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

A man pets a street dog, Dashashwamed, 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

Students at a school in Varanasi, India operated by Dutch NGO Duniya (duniya.org)

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

Colored LED lights illuminate a religious idol that has been "put to sleep" for the night behind a gate, Dashashwamed, Varanasi, India

Beautiful idol in a temple at night, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India

Candles adorn a magnifient vegetable cart during the Diwali festival, Sonapura, Varanasi, India

Window decal depicting singer Michael Jackson as a zombie, Varanasi, India

A girl and fluffy new puppy, Dumraon Colony, Varanasi, India

Injured Pariah street dog with milk and biscuits given to it by tourists, Prayag Ghat, Varanasi, India. I got the dog to a nearby rescue center but it died later that day.

A mother and son 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.

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 shop ower places candles in planters during the Diwali festival, Varanasi, India

Strong look from a woman 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.

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

Students pray before lunch at a school in Varanasi, India operated by Dutch NGO Duniya (duniya.org)

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

, 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.

Stray dog puppies sit by a human-made fire to stay warm, on the ghats in Varanasi, India.

Portrait of a girl in Varanasi, India.

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

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.

A stray dog sleeps in a wooden cart, Varanasi, India.

Ganga aarti on Dashashwamedh ghat, Varanasi, India.

The Dhamekh Stupa, Sarnath, India.

A father and daughter stay warm by a fire at Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India.

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

A fisherman holds up a fish on the Ganges River, Varanasi, India.

A girl at a school in Varanasi, India operated by the Dutch NGO Duniya (duniya.org)

Insects swarm a floodlight along the ghats in 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.

Children watch a man "wake-up" an idol at a Hindu shrine in the morning, Varanasi, India. Idols throughout Varansai are put to sleep each night, with a cloth over the faces.

Carving on the exterior of a temple at the Thai Buddha Vihar, Sarnath, 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.

A man getting a head massage near Manasarowar Ghat, Varanasi, India.

Top-down view of a man getting a shave on Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India.

A boy beams as he answers a question at a school in Varanasi, India operated by Dutch NGO Duniya (duniya.org)

A girl with a "black-eye" smiles for a portrait while receving care at a free health clinic run by the French NGO Agir pour Benares, at the Burning Ghats in Varanasi, India.

Ganga aarti on Dashashwamedh ghat, Varanasi, India.

Stray dog puppies sit by a human-made fire to stay warm, on the ghats in Varanasi, India.

Boats on the Ganges River, Varanasi, India.

Russian pilgrims on the Ganges River, Varanasi, India.

Girls take a mobile phone photo near Mulagandhakuti Vihara temple in Sarnath, India.

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

Cigarettes for sale in Varanasi, India. Smoking and chewing tobacco use are extremely common in Varanasi.

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

Shrine at the base of the 80 foot tall statue of Buddha at the Thai Buddha Vihar in Sarnath, India - the tallest statue of Buddha in India.