Early Morning by the Ganges, a photo from Uttar Pradesh, North

Photographer's Note

Arriving at Varanasi by air, nothing indicates the deeply spiritual nature of the place. While Amritsar airport is old and full of arriving Sikh pilgrims, its equivalent at Benares is modern and featureless. In fact the only feature I found was worth noting in my diary was a WH Smith (a British retail chain) store. But as soon as my taxi reached the narrow streets of the area by the Ganges Varanasi started working its magic. The surroundings changed so much that I had to get off and continue on foot, for the streets leading to my hostel were too narrow to continue by car. It was late and dark and I was lucky to bump into someone who was able to show me the way.

I was staying in Varanasi for two nights but only one full day and had no time to waste so, much as I like to wander and shop around, I booked a boat trip to the nearby Assi Ghat for the following morning. As I appeared in the reception a few hours later at 4:30 am, my skipper was already waiting for me. I followed him through a maze of narrow alleyways to the shore where we got into a boat and paddled on. Assi Ghat holds music and yoga events at sunrise, including a short Aarti ceremony. What you can see in the photo is the preparations to that event. All three photos uploaded here are very high ISO and you may be disappointed with the quality but I feel they reflect the mood of that dark morning and my first encounter with the Ganga.

I’m not going to upload photos of Aarti in this post, there is a really good one posted by Malgo here:

https://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/India/North/Uttar_Pradesh/Varanasi/photo1586834.htm

and I uploaded a short video made at Dasaswamedh Ghat in the evening of the same day to youtube so you can listen to the music:

https://youtu.be/s2GoHoCNs_g

I was once able to witness that ceremony from afar in Kathmandu. Non-Hindu visitors were not allowed in but I just happened to be on a hill above the temple:

https://www.trekearth.com/workshops/1565263/photo217324.htm

pajaran, NickVu, Fis2, ChrisJ, ikeharel, holmertz, jhm, ktanska, PaulVDV, COSTANTINO, jemaflor, mcmtanyel, aliabazari has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Fis2 (169567) 2021-12-14 0:50

Czesc sasiadko dzisiaj :)!
Јadny zestaw zdjкж.
Tutaj widzк interesujaca scene, lubie takie...
Ciekawe zdjecia w WS-ie.
Dobre kadry i kolorki.
Pozdrawiam.
Krzysztof

ChrisJ (171146) 2021-12-14 1:12

Czesc Kasia!

A splendid daily life scene from India with good sharpness and colourful, exotic designs in the carpets and on the well. Tfs!

lousat (138505) 2021-12-14 2:25

Ciao Kasia,An early wake up call to capture images and unique moments that few can show off. Especially the two photos in the WS, with access to the Ganges while it is still dark and no one populates the docks. The night view overlooking the city from the river is very beautiful, while the main photo is quite classic even if it shows the atmosphere of the early morning in the eyes of the women. Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano

holmertz (101864) 2021-12-14 3:06

Hello Kasia,
It's strange, but I had never heard of the Aarti ceremony, or possibly not of Assi Ghat, in 1972. They were probably not mentioned in my guide book, or I would have gone there. The ceremony as such must be thousands of years old, but I suspect that the performances of today are a much later invention to attract tourists. Maybe such shows were not even thought of 49 years ago.
But I was happy with my visit to Varanasi anyway and kept myself busy mainly in the photogenic alleys above the bathing and cremation ghats.
Your main photo has the best atmosphere, thanks to the light and the activities of the women, and also the warmest colours. Maybe WS #2 is the most elegant composition (even though it is filled with the BJP symbol).
Kind regards,
Gert

Silvio1953 (220417) 2021-12-14 3:35

Ciao Kasia, beautiful scene, lovely composition with fantastic carpets, wonderful colors, splendid light and excellent perspective, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

jhm (211734) 2021-12-14 5:20

Hello Kasia,

The group are women busy with the maintain of the religion
But your picture with wonderful carpets .
Excellent composition, pleasant to look at.
Very well done, TFs.

Best regards,
John

dedee (2931) 2021-12-14 6:42

Hi Kasia
Everyone looking very busy here but the women on the right have time for a chat and a smile.
Lovely capture.
David

Tue (91440) 2021-12-14 9:53

Hello Kasia,
A very nice and well-composed impression of this place. The people are sitting nicely around the centre of the photo and I like the many warm colours all around, which stand out well from the darker background.
Lars

ktanska (44414) 2021-12-14 10:55

Hi Kasia,
All the colourful dresses and carpets make this view very attractive. And these women are indeed adding more colour to the scene by painting those stones. What a surprise!
Kari

PaulVDV (62720) 2021-12-14 11:25

Hello Kasia,
I attended only once an Aarti ceremony and that was in Pokhara, Nepal.
If I understand correctly, visitors go with small boats to the ghats. As we see in the WS.
I was never in Varanasi and thought back to an old story of someone else. That person had taken pictures from a relatively large boat (which could accommodate a whole group of tourists) and that seemed to me such a very tourist experience. I think it would be better and much less disturbing to simply go with a skipper in a small boat.
Splendid and very colourful main picture with the women preparing the ceremony.
Best regards, Paul

Gerrit (62042) 2021-12-14 16:54

Hello Kasia,
Good colorful photo of these women preparing for another day at the river.
Thanks and regards,
Gerrit

ifege (46851) 2021-12-14 19:02

Hi Kasia
It sounds like an interesting, if short, visit to Varanasi. 3 good early morning photos.
cheers
Ian

COSTANTINO (115387) 2021-12-14 22:16

Hello dear Kasia
a different photo from the usuals
with originality and interest
thanks for your useful notes
I like reading notes describing
this timing...
regards
costantino

jemaflor (146156) 2021-12-14 23:13

Hi Kasia,
interesting scene and nightshot, perfect light management, nice colors, good note, tfs.

mcmtanyel (67483) 2021-12-25 20:23

Hello Kasia,
A well-managed, well-framed, colorful shot.
Merry Christmas,
MT

mkamionka (73198) 2021-12-26 11:31

Czesc Kasiu
Bardzo podobaja mi sie te kolorowe stroje kobiet w Indiach! Wystarczajacy powod zeby sie tam kiedys wybrac :) Moze i mezczyznie udaloby sie w cos kolorowego przebrac. To napewno okrasiloby zdjecia rodzinne :)
Interesujace zdjecie kobiet przy pracy.
Pozdrawiam serdecznie,
M

GyurMaster (24668) 2022-01-05 12:58

Hello Kasia,

Honestly, I would have taken all three photo proudly myself. Of course the main photo is the best with the women involved in their everyday activities.

Best Wishes,
Gy.

abmdsudi (95869) 2022-01-09 21:04

Hi Kasia
This capture along with your informative video and narrative are so helpful in understanding what it's all about. Preparation is everything to be successful, everyone's perfectly positioned, sharp detail and great depth which hold together in spite of so much going on there. The gaze of that woman I find, is so valuable who also enjoyed this shot i am sure! This is well timed click full of gorgeous colours and clarity is spot on. You did a great work there.
Best regards

aliabazari (21139) 2022-02-10 8:01

Hello Kasia
A beautiful view of this group of ladies with taste decorating and preparing for the ceremony. Good sharpness and exposure. Well seen. Thanks for sharing