Brett Cole Photography | Varanasi Photo Gallery

Skinny old baba reads from religious texts along the Ganges River, Meer Ghat, Varanasi, India

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

Paintings inside a temple, Sarnath, India.

Classic India Pariah street dogs sleeping at night, Bangali Tola, 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 homeless boy sleeps on a step at night while people walk past him, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India.

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

Candles and marigolds adorn a shoe shop during the Diwali festival, Sonapura, 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.

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

A boy transports an idol by bicycle during Kali Murti, Varanasi, India

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

Ubiquitous small clay lanterns used for religious and everyday use, Birdopur, Varanasi, India

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

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.

Laundry drying on the ghats, Varanasi, India

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

Peppers and lemons for sale at a market. The two are used together as a good luck charm by Hindus. Birdopur, Varanasi, India.

Hindus attend Ganga Aarti along 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.

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

A woman prostrates herself every few steps as an exercise in religious asceticism, Assi 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

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

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

Candles in planters during the Diwali festival, Varanasi, India

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

Nighttime bike traffic, Ramapura Luxa, Varanasi, India

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

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

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.

Men perform elaborate prayer rituals to honor deceased relatives, Assi Ghat, Varanasi, India

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

A fascinating image, an idol of Kali is covered at night so she can go to sleep. Bangali Tola, Varanasi, India.

A boy plays drums 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.

Mother and puppy street dogs, 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.

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

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.

Girl 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.

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

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.

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

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

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

A woman prostrates herself every few steps as an exercise in religious asceticism, Assi Ghat, Varanasi, India

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

Children peer through balloons during the Kali Murti festival, Assi 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

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 street dog sleeps in a dilapidated wooden boat, Chousatti Ghat, Varanasi, India

Ubiquitous small clay lanterns used for religious and everyday use, Birdopur, Varanasi, India

Pujari wave candles during Ganga Aarti, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India

A street dog sleeps in a dilapidated wooden boat, Chousatti Ghat, Varanasi, India

Street dog resting alongside a man on Assi Ghat, Varanasi, India

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

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

Men prepare candleabras for the Ganga Aarti, 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.

A small handmade boat using 2 liter plastic soda bottles for flotation, Varanasi, India

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

Laundry and mural on a weathered wall, Assi Ghat, Varanasi, India

Beautiful vegetable stand at a market, Birdopur, Varanasi, India

Women make offerings 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.

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.

Father and daughter along the Ganges River, Assi Ghat, Varanasi, India

Hindu man praying under a large tree along the Ganges River, Assi Ghat, Varanasi, India

Pujari wave candles during Ganga Aarti, 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.

Mannequins model saris at a boutique, Bangali Tola, Varanasi, India

A couple makes offerings 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.

Ladies hanging out at Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India

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

Hindu men pilgrims perform rituals dedicated to honoring deceased relatives, while their wives stand behind watching, Unknown 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.

Children participate in a karate class, Dumraon Colony, 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 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.

Laundry drying on the ghats, Varanasi, India

Grandmother and granddaughter on Prayag Ghat, Varanasi, India