Patricia Wallace

P H O T O G R A P H Y

  • HOME
  • BROWSE
  • SEARCH
  • EXHIBITIONS and PUBLICATIONS
    • VIENNA SPIN 2016
    • LONDON TIMES 2014
    • MOSCOW EVIDENCE 2012
    • BERLIN STUDIEN 2010, 2011
    • PARIS MMIX 2009
    • PASSAGE 2008
    • PASSAGIO 2007
    • PUBLICATION - PUBLIC HOUSE A Tapestry of London Heritage Pub Interiors - Published Book, 2015
    • PUBLICATION Contributor - LONDON TIMES COLLECTED WORKS 2014
    • PUBLICATION - VILLAGE MOSAICS OF RAJASTHAN 2011
    • PUBLICATION Contributor – BERLIN STUDIEN 2011
    • PORTFOLIO - MAROC, 2006
  • COLLECTIONS
    • Eastern Europe –Poland (Warsaw) 2015
    • Eastern Europe –Poland (Gdansk) 2015
    • Portugal (Porto, Lisbon, Madeira) 2015
    • Belvedere, Vienna 2012
    • The Celestial River Ganga at Varanasi 2011
    • Western Ireland 2009
    • Southern Italy and Sicily 2008
    • Les Îles de la Madeleine, QC 2007
    • Thailand 2007
    • Perth ON 2006
    • Bay of Fundy Sampler, 2006
    • Grass Beyond the Mountains - the Cariboo, BC 2006
  • EXHIBITION LIST
  • PUBLICATION LIST
  • BIOGRAPHY
  • CONTACT
  1. COLLECTIONS

The Celestial River Ganga at Varanasi 2011

The celestial River Ganga (Ganges) rises in the Himalayas and flows for 2,525 km before entering the sea in the Bay of Bengal. The Ganges is sacred to millions of Hindus, who believe that by bathing in its waters, all sins will be absolved, and to be cremated on its banks and have the ashes immersed in its waters, salvation of the soul will be ensured and they will be freed from the endless cycle of rebirth.

Varanasi, the "city of light" (formerly Benares), to the Hindus is the holiest place on this most holy river and reputed to be "the oldest living city in the world, having been continually inhabited for more than 4000 years." This small collection of photographs was taken on a VERY cold January pre-dawn morning in very thick fog. After dodging sacred cows and early morning vendors putting up their stalls for the day on the narrow, twisted streets of the old town, we arrived at the ghats. The ghats, which cover more than 6 km, are flights of stone steps that lead down to the water of the Ganges. They are lined with temples, palaces and shrines. Taking a row boat down the river past the ghats was the best way to view the activity along the river and ghats to view the Hindus taking a dip, washing clothes and offering flowers and diyas (candles) to the river. Hindus try to visit Varanasi at least once and have to bathe at five different ghats to complete the pilgrimage.

There are 2 cremation ghats - Manikarnika Ghat and Harishchandra Ghat. Here, funeral pyres burn day and night and bodies wrapped in shrouds lie on biers beside piles of wooden logs waiting to be burned. Once the body has been burned, the ashes are swept into the Ganges.

Daily prayers at dawn and dusk are salutations to the river. "Oil lamps are offered and bells rung while sacred mantras are chanted."
Read More
Untitled photo
10 / 37

  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Untitled photo
  • Photo Sharing
  • About SmugMug
  • Browse Photos
  • Prints & Gifts
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Owner Log In
© 2022 SmugMug, Inc.