A man taking dip in the river Ganges, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

A man taking dip on the river Ganges , Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh,  India
Belief is that one’s sins will be washed away if you take a dig in the river.

A man taking dip on the river Ganges, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

A cycle rickshaw passing by the cows in the street, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

A cycle rickshaw passing by the cows in the street, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh,  India
Cows are considered sacred in this old city and humans live around them, it appears.

A cycle rickshaw passing by the cows in the street, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

A priest applying sandalwood paste on the forehead of a woman devotee at Ghats of Ganges, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

A priest applying sandalwood paste on the forehead of a woman devotee  at Ghats of Ganges, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh,  India
Marking on forehead with sandalwood paste is considered to have health and spiritual benefits and widely practiced when people visit temples.

A priest applying sandalwood paste on the forehead of a woman devotee at Ghats of Ganges, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India