“Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together,” Mark Twain wrote, fascinated by the legend of this city.
This is my second trip to the oldest city of fire and ancient rituals. This time I invite you to an ordinary ritual made of human ashes in which life meets death and death meets Lord Shiva!
All photos are the result of my fight that day for first place among the crazy crowds to stop this unique time that is the ancient art culture of Masan ki Holi 2023.
More info: stadnichenko.com | Instagram
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His Excellency Guru Aghori Manikandan escorted by his followers.
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A girl incarnated in Lord Shiva during a musical trance of folk songs dedicated to the Lord.
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The Aghori ascetic holds in his hands’ human skulls filled with ashes from the cremation pyres.
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Chaos, shouting, loud music do not prevent ritual meditations on the ghats.
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Another Aghori guru adorned with human skulls celebrates playing with ashes.
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On the second day of Masan ki Holi, Guru Aghori arrives with his procession.
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Guru Aghori Manikandan invites me inside the temple and poses proudly for photos.
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The joy of the faithful, regardless of their origin and material condition, is equally strong.
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People achieve nirvana to trance music on cremation Ghat.
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A crowd of people escorts one of the incarnations of Lord Shiva.
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Ritual dance with ashes.
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Wraiths and wraiths play their part during the first day of the festival.
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