Varanasi Aarti

I sat with women from South India to observe the sunset ceremony, taking some abstract photos to reassure them that I did not intend to ignore their reluctance to be photographed.  Although we did not share a language, we shared smiles and after seeing that they paid 10 rupees for necklaces, I bought two and gave one to the lady beside me.  

At the end of the ceremony, some families asked for selfies with me.  It was good to be reminded of how it feels to be on the other end of a camera.

The photos capture the colours of saris in the crowd.