TOKYO-2018

Burning Ghats

  • Photographer
    Donell Gumiran
  • Agency / Studio
    The Mob
  • Technical Info
    Fujifilm Xpro2 10-22mm, F/10 Iso 800, 1/800sec
  • Photo Date
    Aug 23, 2018

The Macabre Tradition of Burning Human Bodies on the Banks of the Ganges Varanasi’s ghats are large stone steps constructed along the banks of India’s holy river, the Ganges. For centuries, people have been coming here to pray, meditate, bathe and, famously, cremate their dead. Despite the ancient and sacred character of the place, however, visitors to these steps should expect more of a jostling market atmosphere than a place for quiet contemplation. The larger of the burning ghats, Manikarnika (where these photographs were taken), is believed to host around 200 cremations in a single day.