Nearly 90 sets of steps, or Ghats, leading into the Holy Ganges River dot the shores of the ancient city of Varanasi. But none are holier, and more important in Hindu rites as Manikarnika Ghat, or colloquially known as the Burning Ghat.
These are the cremation ground where Hindus believe that their souls will rest in perpetual peace upon their earthly demise, and ends the cycle of rebirth and allow the soul to reach nirvana. The reality of these holy grounds is austere, dark, eerie and almost faustian with piles of logs piled symmetrically in key locations around the Ghat, and stalls open for business offering different services associated with the cremation process. This is a 24 hour operation, cremating the bodies of over 100 people a day.
As dark, and creepy as it may seem to many from the West, there is a strange sense of energy in the Manikarnika Ghat. The bodies are brought to the burning grounds shrouded in colorful silks, and flowers, a strong contrast to the dark surroundings.
An official Indian Government website states Manikarnika Ghat “is awe-inspiring for visitors to see the hectic activity for the preparation of funerals so publicly, but photography is strictly taboo”. Here is a photographic account.
©Nadezda Tavodova Tezgor
