Benares Ghat

Benares Ghat 2022

This is a painting from my Benares trip a few years ago. Benares aka Varanasi aka Kashi, on the bank of the river Ganges, is one of the world's oldest continually inhabited cities, dating back 2500 years. Adorned by hundreds of "Ghats" (built-up banks for bathing) depicting every walk of life, this place is considered the holiest place in India, visited by young and old pilgrims to celebrate all major life milestones including birth and cremation. This pastel depicts one of these ghats, on a quiet morning where people are bathing their sins off amidst the lapping boats, amidst floating marigolds from prior night puja.