The magazine of the photo-essay
Dec 2017 back issue
The Worshippers
Varanasi
by Rajib Singha
“A free, really high quality photo-essay magazine. Fabulous!”
Stephen Fry. British actor, writer and film maker
Varanasi is the only place in the world where Diwali is celebrated twice in a year.
According to the Shastras, on this day, Lord Shiva defeated the demon Tripurasurs. To celebrate his victory, Gods lit diyas.
It is believed that on this day all the Gods descend to Lord Shiva's town Kashi on the banks of the Ganga river to celebrate
Diwali. Devotees take a holy dip in the Ganga and make donations to charity. They throng the ghats in tens of thousands
to bathe in the water on the morning of Kartik Purnima. Millions of diyas are lit in the evening, illuminating all the ghats of
the holy city of Varanasi.
These are images of the worshippers who perform pujas and take part in customary rituals.
