Support this photographer - share this work on Facebook.

Chaudharys (the untouchables) are the lowest social caste in India, whose job, for the last thousands of years is to burn dead bodies in the holy city of Varanasi. This extremely tough profession has been assigned to them as one of many unprivileged works they perform in the Hindu society. It is Them, who protect the symbolic Eternal Flame of the heath of Manikarnika Ghat, keeping the hundreds of bodies constantly burning in stacks, every night and day. Cremations, done there by Chaudharys, provide the full closure of samsara and allow to reach the state of nirvana. Water of the river Ganges, flowing at the base of Ghat, is inseparably connected with the mentioned ritual of passage – moksha . Hand to hand, they work to burn the bodies – fathers with sons, cousins with uncles, young and elderly ones.

About author:

Born 1986 in Warsaw, graduate of Master of Photography Department -Film School, Łódź. His main focus is put into portrait. Main goal is to build deeper relations with photographed person and his background. His works are merge of several genres, from reportage throughout documentary to artistic or even conceptual photography.

BACK TO GALLERY