Morning Rituals

Varanasi is one of the oldest and holiest cities in the world, sitting on the shore of the Ganges River in northern India. In the Hindu religion, if you die and get cremated in one of the 'burning ghats' found along the banks of the river, you break the cycle of rebirth and go straight to heaven.

When you think of India, it's difficult not to imagine the colorful textiles, the vibrant festivals, or the busy streets filled with tuk-tuks and taxis honking their horns and inching through traffic. However, I wanted to show a different side of Varanasi, one that captures its beauty. I made these photos in the mornings, looking to reveal those intimate moments before the day-to-day chaos.