Varanasi - "the land of sacred light", is one of the oldest living cities in the world and has been the cultural and religious center in north India for several thousand years. Situated on the west bank of the Ganges river, Varanasi is a special place for devout Hindus who make the pilgrimage to perform holy water rituals. The Ganges is believed to have flown from heaven to wash away the sins of the human race.
Daily life and activities center around the river's steps called ghats. Thousands of men, women and children gather at the ghats before dawn to greet the rising sun and perform the holy Tirtha water ceremonies. The dead make their final pilgrimage to the Manikarnika ghat for cremation at the river's edge.