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DUK10018302_029
REPORTAGE - Die ewigen Feuer von Manikarnika Ghats - Verbrennungsstätte am Ganges
EXCLUSIVE
Where funeral fires forever burn: Incredible photos show the 'Manikarnika Ghats' holy festival on the Ganges where Hindus make their final journey find 'moksha' and reach nirvana
On the western bank of the Ganges in the ancient city of Varanasi, the fires of the Manikarnika Ghats have been burning for thousands of years.
This holy city, in Uttar Pradesh, India, is the most sacred place on earth for Hindus and it is believed that if a person’s ashes are scattered here then their soul will finally achieve nirvana (moksha).
But to liberate the soul, the worn-out body must first be burned.
A series of stunning and rare images, captured by photographer Michal Huniewicz, give a remarkable insight into the last hours of the Hindu body at Manikarnika Ghats - the largest cremation site in Varanasi.
Up to 300 people a day are cremated at this ‘burning ghat’, named for the steps that lead down to a body of holy water.
For centuries, the old and sick have flocked to the site to die here on the banks of the Ganges, and special buildings on the site are reserved for those awaiting their final hours.
But the atmosphere at the giant funeral site is not one of sorrow, as mourners instead laugh, chat and play cards as the funeral preparations are carried out.
The Hindu attitude to death is not one of loss, but instead follows the idea of ‘shedding’ the worn-out body, as one might throw away clothes that are too worn-out to wear.
The Varanasi site is a hive of activity, families weave between the piles of wood gathered for burning bodies; livestock amble around funeral parties; and spectators and tourists mill around observing ceremonies.
The funeral process is vital in achieving nirvana, and the ritual’s many stages must be perfectly performed or the soul won’t find its way in the afterlife.
To begin, the remains are carried through the alleyways of the old city to the holy Ganges on a bamboo stretcher swathed in colourful cloth.
The closest male rela
(c) Dukas -
DUK10018302_016
REPORTAGE - Die ewigen Feuer von Manikarnika Ghats - Verbrennungsstätte am Ganges
EXCLUSIVE
Where funeral fires forever burn: Incredible photos show the 'Manikarnika Ghats' holy festival on the Ganges where Hindus make their final journey find 'moksha' and reach nirvana
On the western bank of the Ganges in the ancient city of Varanasi, the fires of the Manikarnika Ghats have been burning for thousands of years.
This holy city, in Uttar Pradesh, India, is the most sacred place on earth for Hindus and it is believed that if a person’s ashes are scattered here then their soul will finally achieve nirvana (moksha).
But to liberate the soul, the worn-out body must first be burned.
A series of stunning and rare images, captured by photographer Michal Huniewicz, give a remarkable insight into the last hours of the Hindu body at Manikarnika Ghats - the largest cremation site in Varanasi.
Up to 300 people a day are cremated at this ‘burning ghat’, named for the steps that lead down to a body of holy water.
For centuries, the old and sick have flocked to the site to die here on the banks of the Ganges, and special buildings on the site are reserved for those awaiting their final hours.
But the atmosphere at the giant funeral site is not one of sorrow, as mourners instead laugh, chat and play cards as the funeral preparations are carried out.
The Hindu attitude to death is not one of loss, but instead follows the idea of ‘shedding’ the worn-out body, as one might throw away clothes that are too worn-out to wear.
The Varanasi site is a hive of activity, families weave between the piles of wood gathered for burning bodies; livestock amble around funeral parties; and spectators and tourists mill around observing ceremonies.
The funeral process is vital in achieving nirvana, and the ritual’s many stages must be perfectly performed or the soul won’t find its way in the afterlife.
To begin, the remains are carried through the alleyways of the old city to the holy Ganges on a bamboo stretcher swathed in colourful cloth.
The closest male rela
(c) Dukas -
DUK10018302_010
REPORTAGE - Die ewigen Feuer von Manikarnika Ghats - Verbrennungsstätte am Ganges
EXCLUSIVE
Where funeral fires forever burn: Incredible photos show the 'Manikarnika Ghats' holy festival on the Ganges where Hindus make their final journey find 'moksha' and reach nirvana
On the western bank of the Ganges in the ancient city of Varanasi, the fires of the Manikarnika Ghats have been burning for thousands of years.
This holy city, in Uttar Pradesh, India, is the most sacred place on earth for Hindus and it is believed that if a person’s ashes are scattered here then their soul will finally achieve nirvana (moksha).
But to liberate the soul, the worn-out body must first be burned.
A series of stunning and rare images, captured by photographer Michal Huniewicz, give a remarkable insight into the last hours of the Hindu body at Manikarnika Ghats - the largest cremation site in Varanasi.
Up to 300 people a day are cremated at this ‘burning ghat’, named for the steps that lead down to a body of holy water.
For centuries, the old and sick have flocked to the site to die here on the banks of the Ganges, and special buildings on the site are reserved for those awaiting their final hours.
But the atmosphere at the giant funeral site is not one of sorrow, as mourners instead laugh, chat and play cards as the funeral preparations are carried out.
The Hindu attitude to death is not one of loss, but instead follows the idea of ‘shedding’ the worn-out body, as one might throw away clothes that are too worn-out to wear.
The Varanasi site is a hive of activity, families weave between the piles of wood gathered for burning bodies; livestock amble around funeral parties; and spectators and tourists mill around observing ceremonies.
The funeral process is vital in achieving nirvana, and the ritual’s many stages must be perfectly performed or the soul won’t find its way in the afterlife.
To begin, the remains are carried through the alleyways of the old city to the holy Ganges on a bamboo stretcher swathed in colourful cloth.
The closest male rela
(c) Dukas -
DUK10018302_008
REPORTAGE - Die ewigen Feuer von Manikarnika Ghats - Verbrennungsstätte am Ganges
EXCLUSIVE
Where funeral fires forever burn: Incredible photos show the 'Manikarnika Ghats' holy festival on the Ganges where Hindus make their final journey find 'moksha' and reach nirvana
On the western bank of the Ganges in the ancient city of Varanasi, the fires of the Manikarnika Ghats have been burning for thousands of years.
This holy city, in Uttar Pradesh, India, is the most sacred place on earth for Hindus and it is believed that if a person’s ashes are scattered here then their soul will finally achieve nirvana (moksha).
But to liberate the soul, the worn-out body must first be burned.
A series of stunning and rare images, captured by photographer Michal Huniewicz, give a remarkable insight into the last hours of the Hindu body at Manikarnika Ghats - the largest cremation site in Varanasi.
Up to 300 people a day are cremated at this ‘burning ghat’, named for the steps that lead down to a body of holy water.
For centuries, the old and sick have flocked to the site to die here on the banks of the Ganges, and special buildings on the site are reserved for those awaiting their final hours.
But the atmosphere at the giant funeral site is not one of sorrow, as mourners instead laugh, chat and play cards as the funeral preparations are carried out.
The Hindu attitude to death is not one of loss, but instead follows the idea of ‘shedding’ the worn-out body, as one might throw away clothes that are too worn-out to wear.
The Varanasi site is a hive of activity, families weave between the piles of wood gathered for burning bodies; livestock amble around funeral parties; and spectators and tourists mill around observing ceremonies.
The funeral process is vital in achieving nirvana, and the ritual’s many stages must be perfectly performed or the soul won’t find its way in the afterlife.
To begin, the remains are carried through the alleyways of the old city to the holy Ganges on a bamboo stretcher swathed in colourful cloth.
The closest male rela
(c) Dukas -
DUKAS_190790501_NUR
Dev Deepavali Festival in Mumbai
Devotees hold oil lamps while they celebrate the Hindu festival of Dev Deepawali in Mumbai, India, on November 5, 2025. (Photo by Indranil Aditya/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_190790498_NUR
Dev Deepavali Festival in Mumbai
Devotees hold oil lamps while they celebrate the Hindu festival of Dev Deepawali in Mumbai, India, on November 5, 2025. (Photo by Indranil Aditya/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_190790497_NUR
Dev Deepavali Festival in Mumbai
Devotees hold oil lamps while they celebrate the Hindu festival of Dev Deepawali in Mumbai, India, on November 5, 2025. (Photo by Indranil Aditya/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_190790494_NUR
Dev Deepavali Festival in Mumbai
Devotees hold oil lamps while they celebrate the Hindu festival of Dev Deepawali in Mumbai, India, on November 5, 2025. (Photo by Indranil Aditya/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_190790490_NUR
Dev Deepavali Festival in Mumbai
Devotees hold oil lamps while they celebrate the Hindu festival of Dev Deepawali in Mumbai, India, on November 5, 2025. (Photo by Indranil Aditya/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_190790488_NUR
Dev Deepavali Festival in Mumbai
Devotees hold oil lamps while they celebrate the Hindu festival of Dev Deepawali in Mumbai, India, on November 5, 2025. (Photo by Indranil Aditya/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_190782696_NUR
Hindu Festivals In India
Devotees light traditional oil lamps as they celebrate the Hindu festival of 'Dev Deepawali' at Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati in Prayagraj, India, on November 5, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_190782695_NUR
Hindu Festivals In India
Devotees light traditional oil lamps as they celebrate the Hindu festival of 'Dev Deepawali' at Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati in Prayagraj, India, on November 5, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_190782694_NUR
Hindu Festivals In India
Devotees light traditional oil lamps as they celebrate the Hindu festival of 'Dev Deepawali' at Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati in Prayagraj, India, on November 5, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_190782692_NUR
Hindu Festivals In India
Devotees light traditional oil lamps as they celebrate the Hindu festival of 'Dev Deepawali' at Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati in Prayagraj, India, on November 5, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_190782690_NUR
Hindu Festivals In India
Devotees light traditional oil lamps as they celebrate the Hindu festival of 'Dev Deepawali' at Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati in Prayagraj, India, on November 5, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_190782688_NUR
Hindu Festivals In India
Devotees light traditional oil lamps as they celebrate the Hindu festival of 'Dev Deepawali' at Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati in Prayagraj, India, on November 5, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_190767871_NUR
'Boita Bandana'' Festival Celebration In Kolkata, India
Hindu people offer prayers after floating small decorated boats made with banana stems as they take a holy dip in the polluted river Ganges on the occasion of a historical event in Kolkata, India, on November 5, 2025. Every year, on the occasion of Kartik Purnima, people in Odisha celebrate the traditional maritime and naval festival, 'Boita Bandana,' also known as 'Danga Bhasa.' On the full moon day in the holy month of Kartik, the air fills with the spirit of Boita Bandana, celebrated by setting afloat miniature boats to mark the day. This historical event is commemorated by the symbolic act of floating miniature boats made of banana stems, paper, and colored cloth in water bodies like rivers, ponds, and the sea. The ritual pays homage to the rich maritime history of the region and the brave sailors who venture into the sea for trade. (Photo by Rupak De Chowdhuri/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_190767861_NUR
'Boita Bandana'' Festival Celebration In Kolkata, India
Hindu people offer prayers after floating small decorated boats made with banana stems as they take a holy dip in the polluted river Ganges on the occasion of a historical event in Kolkata, India, on November 5, 2025. Every year, on the occasion of Kartik Purnima, people in Odisha celebrate the traditional maritime and naval festival, 'Boita Bandana,' also known as 'Danga Bhasa.' On the full moon day in the holy month of Kartik, the air fills with the spirit of Boita Bandana, celebrated by setting afloat miniature boats to mark the day. This historical event is commemorated by the symbolic act of floating miniature boats made of banana stems, paper, and colored cloth in water bodies like rivers, ponds, and the sea. The ritual pays homage to the rich maritime history of the region and the brave sailors who venture into the sea for trade. (Photo by Rupak De Chowdhuri/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_190767826_NUR
'Boita Bandana'' Festival Celebration In Kolkata, India
Hindu people offer prayers after floating small decorated boats made with banana stems as they take a holy dip in the polluted river Ganges on the occasion of a historical event in Kolkata, India, on November 5, 2025. Every year, on the occasion of Kartik Purnima, people in Odisha celebrate the traditional maritime and naval festival, 'Boita Bandana,' also known as 'Danga Bhasa.' On the full moon day in the holy month of Kartik, the air fills with the spirit of Boita Bandana, celebrated by setting afloat miniature boats to mark the day. This historical event is commemorated by the symbolic act of floating miniature boats made of banana stems, paper, and colored cloth in water bodies like rivers, ponds, and the sea. The ritual pays homage to the rich maritime history of the region and the brave sailors who venture into the sea for trade. (Photo by Rupak De Chowdhuri/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_190767733_NUR
'Boita Bandana'' Festival Celebration In Kolkata, India
Hindu people offer prayers after floating small decorated boats made with banana stems as they take a holy dip in the polluted river Ganges on the occasion of a historical event in Kolkata, India, on November 5, 2025. Every year, on the occasion of Kartik Purnima, people in Odisha celebrate the traditional maritime and naval festival, 'Boita Bandana,' also known as 'Danga Bhasa.' On the full moon day in the holy month of Kartik, the air fills with the spirit of Boita Bandana, celebrated by setting afloat miniature boats to mark the day. This historical event is commemorated by the symbolic act of floating miniature boats made of banana stems, paper, and colored cloth in water bodies like rivers, ponds, and the sea. The ritual pays homage to the rich maritime history of the region and the brave sailors who venture into the sea for trade. (Photo by Rupak De Chowdhuri/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_190767689_NUR
'Boita Bandana'' Festival Celebration In Kolkata, India
Hindu people offer prayers after floating small decorated boats made with banana stems as they take a holy dip in the polluted river Ganges on the occasion of a historical event in Kolkata, India, on November 5, 2025. Every year, on the occasion of Kartik Purnima, people in Odisha celebrate the traditional maritime and naval festival, 'Boita Bandana,' also known as 'Danga Bhasa.' On the full moon day in the holy month of Kartik, the air fills with the spirit of Boita Bandana, celebrated by setting afloat miniature boats to mark the day. This historical event is commemorated by the symbolic act of floating miniature boats made of banana stems, paper, and colored cloth in water bodies like rivers, ponds, and the sea. The ritual pays homage to the rich maritime history of the region and the brave sailors who venture into the sea for trade. (Photo by Rupak De Chowdhuri/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_190709168_NUR
River Pollution In India
Garbage and debris from immersions of idols float at the bank of the river Ganges, as seen in Kolkata, India, on November 3, 2025. (Photo by Debarchan Chatterjee/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_190709166_NUR
River Pollution In India
Garbage and debris from immersions of idols float at the bank of the river Ganges, as seen in Kolkata, India, on November 3, 2025. (Photo by Debarchan Chatterjee/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_190709163_NUR
River Pollution In India
Garbage and debris from immersions of idols float at the bank of the river Ganges, as seen in Kolkata, India, on November 3, 2025. (Photo by Debarchan Chatterjee/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_190469944_NUR
Chhath Puja Festival In Kolkata, India
A Hindu devotee lies on the road as she worships the Sun god on the banks of the river Ganges during the religious festival of Chhat Puja in Kolkata, India, on October 27, 2025 (Photo by Rupak De Chowdhuri/NurPhoto). -
DUKAS_190469942_NUR
Chhath Puja Festival In Kolkata, India
A Hindu devotee lies on the road as she worships the Sun god on the banks of the river Ganges during the religious festival of Chhat Puja in Kolkata, India, on October 27, 2025 (Photo by Rupak De Chowdhuri/NurPhoto). -
DUKAS_190469935_NUR
Chhath Puja Festival In Kolkata, India
A handicapped man carries balloons to sell on the banks of the river Ganges during the religious festival of Chhat Puja in Kolkata, India, on October 27, 2025 (Photo by Rupak De Chowdhuri/NurPhoto). -
DUKAS_190352107_NUR
Hindu Festival Chhath Puja
A laborer works on a makeshift tent on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati, ahead of the Hindu festival Chhath Puja in Prayagraj, India, on October 24, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_190352103_NUR
Hindu Festival Chhath Puja
A laborer works on a makeshift tent on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati, ahead of the Hindu festival Chhath Puja in Prayagraj, India, on October 24, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_190352088_NUR
Hindu Festival Chhath Puja
A laborer works on a makeshift tent on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati, ahead of the Hindu festival Chhath Puja in Prayagraj, India, on October 24, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_190352087_NUR
Hindu Festival Chhath Puja
A laborer works on a makeshift tent on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati, ahead of the Hindu festival Chhath Puja in Prayagraj, India, on October 24, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_190352086_NUR
Hindu Festival Chhath Puja
A laborer works on a makeshift tent on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati, ahead of the Hindu festival Chhath Puja in Prayagraj, India, on October 24, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_190352085_NUR
Hindu Festival Chhath Puja
A laborer works on a makeshift tent on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati, ahead of the Hindu festival Chhath Puja in Prayagraj, India, on October 24, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_189952674_NUR
India Weather
A youth runs along the dried-up portion of a riverbed on the banks of the river Ganges in Prayagraj, India, on October 14, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_189952671_NUR
India Weather
Youths walk along the dried-up portion of a riverbed on the banks of the river Ganges in Prayagraj, India, on October 14, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_189952664_NUR
India Weather
Youths walk along the dried-up portion of a riverbed on the banks of the river Ganges in Prayagraj, India, on October 14, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_189952663_NUR
India Weather
Youths walk along the dried-up portion of a riverbed on the banks of the river Ganges in Prayagraj, India, on October 14, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_189952660_NUR
India Weather
Youths walk along the dried-up portion of a riverbed on the banks of the river Ganges in Prayagraj, India, on October 14, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_189952658_NUR
India Weather
Youths walk along the dried-up portion of a riverbed on the banks of the river Ganges in Prayagraj, India, on October 14, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_189952656_NUR
India Weather
Youths walk along the dried-up portion of a riverbed on the banks of the river Ganges in Prayagraj, India, on October 14, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_189717490_NUR
Monsoon Rain In India
Hindu devotees walk through muddy grounds after floodwaters recede at the Sangam area in Prayagraj, India, on October 7, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_189717489_NUR
Monsoon Rain In India
Hindu devotees walk through muddy grounds after floodwaters recede at the Sangam area in Prayagraj, India, on October 7, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_189717488_NUR
Monsoon Rain In India
Hindu devotees walk through muddy grounds after floodwaters recede at the Sangam area in Prayagraj, India, on October 7, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_189717487_NUR
Monsoon Rain In India
Hindu devotees walk through muddy grounds after floodwaters recede at the Sangam area in Prayagraj, India, on October 7, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_189717471_NUR
Monsoon Rain In India
Hindu devotees walk through muddy grounds after floodwaters recede at the Sangam area in Prayagraj, India, on October 7, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_189717468_NUR
Monsoon Rain In India
Hindu devotees walk through muddy grounds after floodwaters recede at the Sangam area in Prayagraj, India, on October 7, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_189717465_NUR
Monsoon Rain In India
Hindu devotees walk through muddy grounds after floodwaters recede at the Sangam area in Prayagraj, India, on October 7, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_189717462_NUR
Monsoon Rain In India
Hindu devotees walk through muddy grounds after floodwaters recede at the Sangam area in Prayagraj, India, on October 7, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_189717459_NUR
Monsoon Rain In India
Hindu devotees walk through muddy grounds after floodwaters recede at the Sangam area in Prayagraj, India, on October 7, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
DUKAS_189717423_NUR
Monsoon Rain In India
Hindu devotees walk through muddy grounds after floodwaters recede at the Sangam area in Prayagraj, India, on October 7, 2025. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/NurPhoto) -
