The face of bereavement
"The oldest living city in the world".
Last morning I was walking next to Manikarnika ghat (the burning ghat) in Varanasi (Benaras) and I saw this man who was having his head shaved.
This is part of the death ritual for Hindus.
The death ritual lasts 12 days and during this period, the mourners are ritually unclean.
They do not go to the temple, and must cover all religious pictures and figures that they have in the house.
Family members sleep on the floor, and eat only vegetarian food.
Every morning for 11 days, the eldest son (as main mourner) receives tutelage in the ritual from the priest.
Close male relatives of the deceased may shave their heads as a mark of respect and bareavement and keep a small tail on the back in order to show their faith.
Each month during the first year after the death, a pinda rice-ball and bowl of water are offered in memory of the dead person.
Sons will hold a memorial service each year on the day of their father's death as long as they are alive.
As I don’t want to be disrespectful, I wont show any picture of the funeral pyres, besides they are not allowed, however as death is an important topic in Benaras, I’ll upload images like this in order to mention it.
A few seconds after this shot the man stood up and stepped down towards the holy waters of river Ganga.
© All photographs are copyrighted and all rights reserved.
Please do not use any photographs without permission (even for private use).
The use of any work without consent of the artist is PROHIBITED and will lead automatically to consequences.
The face of bereavement
"The oldest living city in the world".
Last morning I was walking next to Manikarnika ghat (the burning ghat) in Varanasi (Benaras) and I saw this man who was having his head shaved.
This is part of the death ritual for Hindus.
The death ritual lasts 12 days and during this period, the mourners are ritually unclean.
They do not go to the temple, and must cover all religious pictures and figures that they have in the house.
Family members sleep on the floor, and eat only vegetarian food.
Every morning for 11 days, the eldest son (as main mourner) receives tutelage in the ritual from the priest.
Close male relatives of the deceased may shave their heads as a mark of respect and bareavement and keep a small tail on the back in order to show their faith.
Each month during the first year after the death, a pinda rice-ball and bowl of water are offered in memory of the dead person.
Sons will hold a memorial service each year on the day of their father's death as long as they are alive.
As I don’t want to be disrespectful, I wont show any picture of the funeral pyres, besides they are not allowed, however as death is an important topic in Benaras, I’ll upload images like this in order to mention it.
A few seconds after this shot the man stood up and stepped down towards the holy waters of river Ganga.
© All photographs are copyrighted and all rights reserved.
Please do not use any photographs without permission (even for private use).
The use of any work without consent of the artist is PROHIBITED and will lead automatically to consequences.