Varanasi — Clipahoy

Hoards of akharas mounted on trucks make their way to Varanasi for Kumbh Mela

Uttar Pradesh·river · ceremony

Multiple trucks mounting members of various akharas lead their way to the ghats of Ganga for the holy dip in the holy water to attain spiritual salvation.

Maha Shivratri witnesses factional feud among 'akharas' of sadhus at varanasi

Uttar Pradesh·festival · temple

Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva. It is also known as padmarajarathri. Shivaratri literally means the great night of Shiva or the night of Shiva.

Varanasi: Crowded by pilgrims throughout the year especially on Mahashivratri

Uttar Pradesh·ceremony · festival

Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva. It is also known as padmarajarathri. Shivaratri literally means the great night of Shiva or the night of Shiva.

Devotees in Varanasi for paying obeisance to Lord Shiva during Maha Shivratri

Uttar Pradesh·ceremony · festival

Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva. It is also known as padmarajarathri. Shivaratri literally means the great night of Shiva or the night of Shiva.

Police check post in Varanasi drowned in the midst of Maha Shivratri devotees

Uttar Pradesh·ceremony · festival

Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva. It is also known as padmarajarathri. Shivaratri literally means the great night of Shiva or the night of Shiva.

Maha Shivratri in Varanasi draws Hindu devotees from different parts of India

Uttar Pradesh·ceremony · festival

Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva. It is also known as padmarajarathri. Shivaratri literally means the great night of Shiva or the night of Shiva.

Ganges Ghats of Varanasi filled with devotees of lord Shiva on Maha Shivratri

Uttar Pradesh·ceremony · festival

Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva. It is also known as padmarajarathri. Shivaratri literally means the great night of Shiva or the night of Shiva.

Lakhs of devotees flock Ganga Ghat in Varanasi during Maha Shivratri festival

Uttar Pradesh·ceremony · festival

Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva. It is also known as padmarajarathri. Shivaratri literally means the great night of Shiva or the night of Shiva.

Holy saints assembled for Samashti Bhandara during Maha Shivratri at Varanasi

Uttar Pradesh·festival · ceremony

Samashti Bhandara is the exclusive holy gathering of Indian Saints. The most unique food related feature of Navaratri celebration is- BHANDARA. Bhandara is a huge gathering of people for the purpose of being served a feast.

Samashti Bhandara: One of the major attractions of Maha Shivratri at Varanasi

Uttar Pradesh·festival · ceremony

Samashti Bhandara is one of the major attractions of Maha Shivratri's celebration at Varanasi. The most unique food related feature of Navaratri celebration is- BHANDARA.

Pilgrims taking a holy dip at varanasi ghat on the occasion of Maha Shivratri

Uttar Pradesh·ceremony · festival

Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva. It is also known as padmarajarathri. Shivaratri literally means the great night of Shiva or the night of Shiva.

Multi - tiered aarti raised by priests at the evening Ganga Aarti in Varanasi

Uttar Pradesh·ceremony · river

The Varanasi Ganga Aarti takes place every sunset at holy Dasaswamedh Ghat, near Kashi Vishwanath Temple. It differs from the aartis at Haridwar and Rishikesh in that it's a highly choreographed ceremony.

Ganga Aarti at Varanasi: when flood waters call, action moves to roof-tops!

Uttar Pradesh·ceremony · river

The famous evening aarti of the Ganga performed at Dashashwamedh Ghat, has been shifted to the terrace of the office of Ganga Seva Nidhi, which organises the aarti, as water has reached the roads.

Crowds - Time lapse of pilgrimage in Varanasi during Maha Shivratri Festival

Uttar Pradesh·ceremony · festival

Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva. It is also known as padmarajarathri. Shivaratri literally means the great night of Shiva or the night of Shiva.

Ancient Buddhist monasteries and Dharmarajika Stupa from the pre-Ashokan Era, in Varanasi

Uttar Pradesh·river

View of ancient Buddhist monasteries and Dharmarajika Stupa from the pre-Ashokan Era in Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. Dharmarajika Stupa is one of the few pre-Ashokan stupas remaining, although only the foundations remain.

Sailing on the banks of Ganges with Chet Singh Ghat in background - Varanasi

Uttar Pradesh

Boating on the banks of holy Ganges in Varanasi/Banaras, Uttar Pradesh. Varanasi / Banaras, is a city on the banks of the Ganges (Ganga) in Uttar Pradesh, 320 kilometres (200 mi) southeast of the state capital, Lucknow.

Devotees offering money to Sadhus at Samashti Bhandara during Maha Shivratri, in Varanasi

Uttar Pradesh·festival · ceremony

Devotees offering money to Sadhus at Samashti Bhandara during Maha Shivratri in Varanasi. The most unique food related feature of Navaratri celebration is- BHANDARA.

Mahashivratri in the Holy city of Varanasi attracts a lot of HIndu pilgrims!

Uttar Pradesh·ceremony · festival

Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva. It is also known as padmarajarathri. Shivaratri literally means the great night of Shiva or the night of Shiva.

Hindu devotees from all over India flock at Varanasi Ghat for Maha Shivratri

Uttar Pradesh·ceremony · festival

Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva. It is also known as padmarajarathri. Shivaratri literally means the great night of Shiva or the night of Shiva.

Hindu priests hold lit multi-tiered aarti lamps during Ganga Aarti, Varanasi

Uttar Pradesh·ceremony · river

The Varanasi Ganga Aarti takes place every sunset at holy Dasaswamedh Ghat, near Kashi Vishwanath Temple. It differs from the aartis at Haridwar and Rishikesh in that it's a highly choreographed ceremony.

Multitude of people attending Ganga aarti on the Dashaswamedh ghat, Varanasi

Uttar Pradesh·ceremony · river

The Varanasi Ganga Aarti takes place every sunset at holy Dasaswamedh Ghat, near Kashi Vishwanath Temple. It differs from the aartis at Haridwar and Rishikesh in that it's a highly choreographed ceremony.

Bird’s-Eye View of Varanasi Ghats Capturing Rituals and Boats on the Ganges

Uttar Pradesh·aerial · river

Aerial view of the ghats in Varanasi, capturing the iconic riverfront stretching along the sacred Ganges. The sweeping perspective reveals a continuous line of ancient steps, historic temples, and vibrant activity along the water’s edge.

Hand crafted and hand woven Banarasi sarees from master weavers in Varanasi

Uttar Pradesh·crafts

Banarasi saris are saris made in Varanasi, a city which is also called "Benares." These saris are historically considered to be among the finest saris in India and are known for their gold and silver brocade or zari, fine silk and opulent e…