<h1>Sacred River</h1> <p></p> <p><img src=”images/Sacredriver_01.jpg” title=”” alt=”STORY OVERVIEW FOR SACRED RIVER: Varanasi is India’s spiritual capital. On the Ganges river in the country’s north, Hindu pilgrims come to burn their dead and to purify themselves in the holy waters. In one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities on earth, this photo essay explores a very personal experience of place. Amid the teeming masses, there is still solitude and peace to be found. PHOTO CAPTION: A pilgrim dives into the Ganges River in Varanasi, India at dawn on December 10, 2014 while another believer meditates at the water’s edge. Varanasi is India’s spiritual capital. On the Ganges river in the country’s north, Hindu pilgrims come to burn their dead and to purify themselves in the holy waters. In one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities on earth, this photo essay explores a very personal experience of place. Amid the teeming masses, there is still solitude and peace to be found. PHOTO CAPTION: A pilgrim dives into the Ganges River in Varanasi, India at dawn on December 10, 2014 while another believer meditates at the water’s edge.” /><br> STORY OVERVIEW FOR SACRED RIVER: Varanasi is India’s spiritual capital. On the Ganges river in the country’s north, Hindu pilgrims come to burn their dead and to purify themselves in the holy waters. In one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities on earth, this photo essay explores a very personal experience of place. Amid the teeming masses, there is still solitude and peace to be found. PHOTO CAPTION: A pilgrim dives into the Ganges River in Varanasi, India at dawn on December 10, 2014 while another believer meditates at the water’s edge. Varanasi is India’s spiritual capital. On the Ganges river in the country’s north, Hindu pilgrims come to burn their dead and to purify themselves in the holy waters. In one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities on earth, this photo essay explores a very personal experience of place. Amid the teeming masses, there is still solitude and peace to be found. PHOTO CAPTION: A pilgrim dives into the Ganges River in Varanasi, India at dawn on December 10, 2014 while another believer meditates at the water’s edge.</p> <p><img src=”images/Sacredriver_02.jpg” title=”” alt=”Men bathe in the Ganges River in Varanasi, India at dawn on December 10, 2014. Though terribly polluted, and frigid in the middle of winter, the Ganges is regarded as holy and Hindu pilgrims travel long distances to purify themselves in its sacred waters.” /><br> Men bathe in the Ganges River in Varanasi, India at dawn on December 10, 2014. Though terribly polluted, and frigid in the middle of winter, the Ganges is regarded as holy and Hindu pilgrims travel long distances to purify themselves in its sacred waters.</p> <p><img src=”images/Sacredriver_03.jpg” title=”” alt=”Smoke is spread into the air during the evening prayer ritual or aarti on the banks of the Ganges River on December 22, 2014. The river is a place of worship and purification for Hindus.” /><br> Smoke is spread into the air during the evening prayer ritual or aarti on the banks of the Ganges River on December 22, 2014. The river is a place of worship and purification for Hindus.</p> <p><img src=”images/Sacredriver_04.jpg” title=”” alt=”Three pilgrims walk along the banks of the Ganges River in Varanasi, close to midnight on December 22, 2014. Indians come to the holy city to burn their dead on the ghats and to purify themselves by bathing in the holy waters of the Ganges.” /><br> Three pilgrims walk along the banks of the Ganges River in Varanasi, close to midnight on December 22, 2014. Indians come to the holy city to burn their dead on the ghats and to purify themselves by bathing in the holy waters of the Ganges.</p> <p><img src=”images/Sacredriver_05.jpg” title=”” alt=”Indians in Varanasi, one of the oldest continously-inhabited cities on Earth, make their way home through the alleyways of the Old City, late at night on December 23, 2014. Cows, regarded as holy, roam the streets, people and traffic picking their way around the beasts.” /><br> Indians in Varanasi, one of the oldest continously-inhabited cities on Earth, make their way home through the alleyways of the Old City, late at night on December 23, 2014. Cows, regarded as holy, roam the streets, people and traffic picking their way around the beasts.</p> <p><img src=”images/Sacredriver_06.jpg” title=”” alt=”On a wintry morning, washermen or &quot;dhobiwallahs&quot; pound cloth on stone blocks in the frigid waters of the Ganges River in Varanasi, India on December 9, 2014. The river is regarded as holy by Hindus but it’s also a very practical source of income for the city’s washermen who use it to make a living.” /><br> On a wintry morning, washermen or “dhobiwallahs” pound cloth on stone blocks in the frigid waters of the Ganges River in Varanasi, India on December 9, 2014. The river is regarded as holy by Hindus but it’s also a very practical source of income for the city’s washermen who use it to make a living.</p> <p><img src=”images/Sacredriver_07.jpg” title=”” alt=”A man carries a pail from a rooftop in Varanasi’s Old City. The laneways form a labyrinth, all paths seemingly leading, eventually, to the banks of the Ganges River.” /><br> A man carries a pail from a rooftop in Varanasi’s Old City. The laneways form a labyrinth, all paths seemingly leading, eventually, to the banks of the Ganges River.</p> <p><img src=”images/Sacredriver_08.jpg” title=”” alt=”An Indian boy rearranges the nets on his boat on the holy Ganges River in Varanasi, India on December 21, 2014. The children use makeshift nets tied with magnets to dredge the riverbed for valuable scraps of metal.” /><br> An Indian boy rearranges the nets on his boat on the holy Ganges River in Varanasi, India on December 21, 2014. The children use makeshift nets tied with magnets to dredge the riverbed for valuable scraps of metal.</p> <p><img src=”images/Sacredriver_09.jpg” title=”” alt=”Street dogs sleep in the warm ashes of the previous night’s fires on the banks of the Ganges River in Varanasi, India on December 9, 2014. The city has countless strays, many of them mange-ridden and malnourished — unlike cows, they are not considered holy creatures.” /><br> Street dogs sleep in the warm ashes of the previous night’s fires on the banks of the Ganges River in Varanasi, India on December 9, 2014. The city has countless strays, many of them mange-ridden and malnourished — unlike cows, they are not considered holy creatures.</p> <p><img src=”images/Sacredriver_10.jpg” title=”” alt=”In the usually teeming city of Varanasi, a pilgrim finds a moment of solitude on the banks of the Ganges River on December 23, 2014. Varanasi is India’s spiritual capital and one of the oldest continously-inhabited places on earth, and Hindus travel long distances to visit the river, which is considered holy.” /><br> In the usually teeming city of Varanasi, a pilgrim finds a moment of solitude on the banks of the Ganges River on December 23, 2014. Varanasi is India’s spiritual capital and one of the oldest continously-inhabited places on earth, and Hindus travel long distances to visit the river, which is considered holy.</p>
