Varanasi attracts people from around the world, some are coming here so that their souls can rest in peace others are looking for food in the narrow lanes that serve the best Indian Street Food. Some are pilgrims, some tourists, some travellers, and others in ochre robes have no mission other than to keep moving, like the Ganga. From daylight to night, the Ghats are busy. These ghats still host ancient priest and pilgrim ceremonies in the morning. The play continues with the same story despite new players. In this photo feature, I present Varanasi’s Faces from my years on Benaras’ ghats.
The meaning of colors for a spiritual speaker : All things are special. It doesn’t matter what you do or who you are or what kind of blue jeans you wear,or wheaher your wear an achre robe or whetther you’re sober or asleep or dreaming. It’s all the same.
Timeless Tapestry of Life on the Ghats
One may wonder what Varanasi is really like—the people who live in the holiest city in the world, the pilgrims who seek Nirvana, or the priests and sadhus who work the Ghats. Starry-eyed visitors try to make sense of the turmoil and marvel how Indians can be so calm. But my take is that just like the Ganga, which does not judge anyone and welcomes all of us to swim in her waters, we have no business to wonder what the true face of Varanasi is because each of the millions of people who live and visit the city are its faces, and each of us—locals and visitors—is one of them.
Cherish all your happy moments they make a fine cushion for old age : Old age is a wonderful time of life. At least, that’s what what everyone tells you. But let me tell you, it is not true. What’s true is that your hips, knees and ankles gradually give up on you. Everything is quite dreadful,really. And it was a terrible thing to have told us because we believed it.
Big Moustache : Hidden Smile Under The Moustache
The innocent face: The way things are the way it should be
Eyes of Endurance: Maturity on face symbolises experience and hardwork
Seeking for saviour : A deep look into the heaven
Copyrights: All the photos and text in this post are copyright of Gokul Somarajan, Ernakulam and Creative Hut Institute of Photography and Film. Their reproduction, full or part, is forbidden without the explicit approval of rightful owners.
