Varanasi

Water buffalo bathing in the Ganges River, Varanasi, India

Women splash each other with water 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

Water buffalo bathing in the Ganges River, Varanasi, India

People ride a motorcycle with their faces covered due to traffic fumes, Dumraon Colony, Varanasi, India. It is actually very unusual for Indians to take any measures to protect themselves from the country's terrible air pollution. Delhi has the worst air pollution in the world according to recent figures.

A mechanic work with motor oil, Birdopur, 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 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 and his son, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India

Prayers 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.

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

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

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

A man dives into the Ganges River, Tulsi 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.

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

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

A steet dog rests in a concrete tube at a construction site, Nagwa Lanka, Varanasi, India

A mechanic work with motor oil, Birdopur, 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.

One of my favorites of my photos of women in India, so simple but gorgeous, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India

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

Pujari wave candles during Ganga Aarti, 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 candle gently illuminates a doorway, Tripura Bhaliwi, Varanasi, India

Boats ply the golden Ganges River at sunrise, Varanasi, India

Street dog resting alongside a man on Assi 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.

Brass bell on the Ganges River, Assi Ghat, Varanasi, India

Prayer offerings on the Ganges River at Assi Ghat, Varanasi, India

Give Raj a call if you see his cow, Chousatti Ghat, Varanasi, India

A farmer manages his water buffalo, Kedar Ghat, Varanasi, India

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

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

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.

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

Grandmother and granddaughter on 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.

Long exposure of a Muslim man passing by at night on a bicycle, 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.

Sadhus and tourists chat, Kedar Ghat, Varanasi, India

A man prays among wooden boats on the Ganges River, 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.

Traffic passes a motorcycle repair shop, Shivala, Varanasi, India

A group of girls read newspapers during free time at a school in Varanasi, India operated by Dutch NGO Duniya (duniya.org)

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.

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

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

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

Ladies hanging out at Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India

Skinny old baba reads from religious texts along the Ganges River, Meer 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 group of ladies listen to a VIP of some sort give a talk, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India

Classic India Pariah street dogs sleeping at night, Bangali Tola, 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.

A Hindu woman prays at a temple, Manasarowar Ghat, Varanasi, India

Portrait of a water buffalo bathing in the Ganges River, Varanasi, India

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

People celebrate Kali Murti, Varanasi, India

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 man bathes and does laundry in the Ganges River, Chousatti 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.

Portrait of a water buffalo bathing in the Ganges River, Varanasi, India

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

Machinations of daily life in India, Assi Ghat, Varanasi, India

Pujari perfrom Ganga Aarti along the Ganges River, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India

Men prepare candleabras for the Ganga Aarti, 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.

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

A candle gently illuminates a doorway, Tripura Bhaliwi, Varanasi, 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