As the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, Varanasi carries the weight of millennia of stories, rituals, and reflections.
The city is a bustling mix of ancient culture and daily life, offering a visual feast for street photographers. You’ll find narrow winding streets, lively markets, traditional ceremonies, and people going about their routines.
Every year hundreds of thousands of Indians from across the country, travel to Varanasi with their dead. Hindus believe that if you die in Varanasi, you will be forever liberated from the endless cycle of death and rebirth (ie reincarnation). However, if you don’t die in Varanasi, your ashes can still be immersed in the Ganges for salvation. While walking along the ghats I met a father and son from Singapore who had travelled to Varanasi to spread his wife’s ashes in the river. They were supposed to make the trip in 2020, but the pandemic delayed their visit.
Varanasi is also a very popular destination for tourists, international, but mostly domestic. We lost count of the times that we were invited to have a selfie with a family or group of friends, which we happily accepted.
The range of activities taking place along Varanasi’s Ghats is fascinating. In addition to the spiritual and religious, you can find food vendors, hairdressers, kids playing cricket and kite flying and all ages socialising. It’s so filled with life and great little stories for street photography.
Given the spiritual and religious nature of many activities in Varanasi, it’s important to be respectful while taking photographs. For example, photos shouldn’t be taken at the two ghats where the dead are cremated (if passing through, put your cameras in your bags).
