River Bathing
on the banks of the river Ganges
Varanasi, India
2006
Large throngs gather along the banks of the sacred Ganges River, where terraced landings, or ghats, lead down to the water. Hindus believe that immersion in the Ganges water cleanses them of sins and that death on its banks leads to salvation. The level portions of the ghats are used for funeral pyres.
provisions boat
doing the wash
where the boats load passengers for a tour of the river bank
former ghat of a Raja
water intake tower for the city of Varanasi