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."