A priest raises a multi-tiered flaming lamp during evening aarti in Varanasi, photographed in 2014

Photographic Collection

Celebration & Ceremony

This first selection follows evening Ganga aarti: flame, incense and people gathered at the riverfront.

Explore the collection

Celebration & Ceremony

Each collection brings together photographs through a shared subject. Follow an image into its story, or discover it again through another place or theme.

A priest raises a smoking incense vessel during evening Ganga aarti before a large crowd in Varanasi, 2019 — **Incense at Evening Aarti**Incense smoke curls above the priest as the night ceremony gathers around him.V-2019-943

Several priests perform evening Ganga aarti beneath illuminated arches while smoke drifts over the seated crowd in Varanasi, 2019 — **The Gathered Ceremony**Smoke, ritual movement and the crowd fill a broad night view.V-2019-953

A woman applies orange pigment to another woman’s forehead as the recipient looks toward the camera in Varanasi, 2019 — **Riverfront Ritual**Riverfront RitualV-2019-1079

Sacred and Everyday

Prayer, contemplation and everyday activity share the same public landscape.

Explore this subject across India

Related photographic encounters

Follow this theme through individual encounters in the wider archive.

A wedding procession in Jaisalmer, with a rider on a white horse and people walking along the street.

A Wedding Procession — Jaisalmer

Six photographs from a wedding procession through the streets of Jaisalmer.

Group gathered in front of an illuminated shrine on wet pavement.

Mahima

A gathering observed through people, place, movement and a personal invitation.

Continue exploring

Return to the archive entrance →Journey by place →Learn about the documentary approach →

Brian Silver Documentary Archive

Loading the documentary experience…

Photography and text are prioritized. Interactive geographic context loads only when needed.

Photographic Collection

Celebration & Ceremony

This first selection follows evening Ganga aarti: flame, incense and people gathered at the riverfront.

Explore the collection

Celebration & Ceremony

Each collection brings together photographs through a shared subject. Follow an image into its story, or discover it again through another place or theme.

Sacred and Everyday

Prayer, contemplation and everyday activity share the same public landscape.

Explore this subject across India

Related photographic encounters

Follow this theme through individual encounters in the wider archive.

A Wedding Procession — Jaisalmer

Six photographs from a wedding procession through the streets of Jaisalmer.

Mahima

A gathering observed through people, place, movement and a personal invitation.

Continue exploring

Return to the archive entrance →Journey by place →Learn about the documentary approach →