Published on Jan, 2025
We were totally lost in the alleyways in the back of Dashashwamedh Ghat when we had to call Dhiraj to save us at some ungodly, cold, foggy hour in the morning. That was the start of the adventure. We started at Dashashwamedh Ghat, watching humanity’s pre-dawn rituals on the river Ganga by the Ghats. Dhiraj pointed out the details of life that I would have missed as Lauren and I were overwhelmed by the sound, sights, and smells, of Varanasi, the so-called City of the Dead. We saw and photographed men being shaved, cleansed, and purified against a backdrop of colourful umbrellas swathed in material. A man dressed in orange emerged from the fog carrying a lit ember on top of a layered brass tray. We saw the morning fire ritual of a one-man Aarati, no less affecting that one soul performed it. Dhiraji was a wonderful, engaging guide and an even more patient photography teacher. He took us out on a boat and we had photos taken with the local seagulls. He gave me advice on how to curate the shots and how to compose them. By the end, I had captured photos that were nearly National Geographic quality (in my opinion of course). We had a fantastic morning meandering along the Ghats and back streets of the magically atmospheric City of Varanasi. I highly recommend this tour. Thank you DHIRAJ!