Photo Essay: Portraits of Varanasi, India

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Photo Essay: Portraits of Varanasi, India: "

Travel photographer Alex Blauhorn brings back images of holy men in the Indian city of Varanasi.

Millions of Hindu pilgrims come to the ghats of Varanasi — also known as Benares — to wash away their sins in the sacred waters of the River Ganges. It’s also where most of them wish to be cremated. Probably the holiest city in a particularly holy country, Varanasi dictated its subject matter to me.

1. A baba admiring the magic of the Ganges.

2. Portrait of a baba who happily posed for a photo.

3. A man meditating whilst contemplating the sunset by the Ganges.

4. A fully costumed baba.

5. Known as the burning ghat, this is the place where most of the cremations take place.

6. A wise look from one of the many babas you find in Varanasi sitting at the ghats.

7. A baba taking a rest on the steps that lead to the river.

8. A baba walking down a ghat with his belongings.

9. Panoramic view of the main ghat at dawn.

10. The sacred waters of the Ganges are also used for laundry.

11. A baba hugging one of India’s famous holy cows.

12. A portrait full of color.

13. Hang up a mirror and you’ve got yourself a barbershop.

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