Kashi

Varanasi is known among devout Hindus as Kashi, or the place “where the supreme light shines.” It’s one of those places where everything is happening right beneath your eyes and where moments like these are just shy of a fast-paced city. The Ganga, the mother river flows through the heart of India as a major source of life, spirituality and mythology. Known as some of the most polluted, but self-purifying waters.

From all over India people travel to the oldest and holiest city of Varanasi; to die or to carry out the wishes of their loved ones. “People of all India’s castes - rich to poor - come together to help the families of the deceased. They dress in bright colours and performances take place around them. The families are grieving, but this is not just about sadness. There's joy in it too.” Sailing across her calm waters felt like waking from a dream and entering a new universe. The light was soft, the unfamiliar felt comfortable, it is a place of true sacredness, a place where people and spirits weave across the river.