Cremation | National Geographic

Varanasi India stretching along the

Varanasi India stretching along the sacred Ganges

sacred Ganges

sacred Ganges it is Hinduism’s holiest city millions

it is Hinduism’s holiest city millions

it is Hinduism’s holiest city millions of pilgrims come to bathe in the

of pilgrims come to bathe in the

of pilgrims come to bathe in the purifying waters but others come for far

purifying waters but others come for far

purifying waters but others come for far different purpose they come here to burn

different purpose they come here to burn

different purpose they come here to burn the dead out in the open in public Fein

the dead out in the open in public Fein

the dead out in the open in public Fein thiol has a job that many might find

thiol has a job that many might find

thiol has a job that many might find appalling Fein belongs to a unique

appalling Fein belongs to a unique

appalling Fein belongs to a unique Indian caste or community known as the

Indian caste or community known as the

Indian caste or community known as the domes it is the traditional role of the

domes it is the traditional role of the

domes it is the traditional role of the domes to cremate the Hindu dead members

domes to cremate the Hindu dead members

domes to cremate the Hindu dead members of fiends family have been burning

of fiends family have been burning

of fiends family have been burning corpses for hundreds perhaps thousands

corpses for hundreds perhaps thousands

corpses for hundreds perhaps thousands of years for devout Hindus touching a

of years for devout Hindus touching a

of years for devout Hindus touching a corpse is highly taboo it is a ritually

corpse is highly taboo it is a ritually

corpse is highly taboo it is a ritually polluting act those who work with the

polluting act those who work with the

polluting act those who work with the dead are considered unclean and

dead are considered unclean and

dead are considered unclean and therefore untouchable they are outcasts

therefore untouchable they are outcasts

therefore untouchable they are outcasts but the domes also play a pivotal role

but the domes also play a pivotal role

but the domes also play a pivotal role in the Hindu approach to death which is

in the Hindu approach to death which is

in the Hindu approach to death which is based on the idea of reincarnation

based on the idea of reincarnation

based on the idea of reincarnation Hindus believe every human soul passes

Hindus believe every human soul passes

Hindus believe every human soul passes through many lives the ultimate goal is

through many lives the ultimate goal is

through many lives the ultimate goal is to unite with the Supreme Being but

to unite with the Supreme Being but

to unite with the Supreme Being but until they are worthy they continue to

until they are worthy they continue to

until they are worthy they continue to be reborn the holy city of Varanasi

be reborn the holy city of Varanasi

be reborn the holy city of Varanasi provides a kind of spiritual shortcut

provides a kind of spiritual shortcut

provides a kind of spiritual shortcut Hindus believe that if they die here and

Hindus believe that if they die here and

Hindus believe that if they die here and their ashes are scattered in the Ganges

their ashes are scattered in the Ganges

their ashes are scattered in the Ganges their souls are liberated from the cycle

the domes work as a team while some

the domes work as a team while some build pyres and oversee cremation others

build pyres and oversee cremation others

build pyres and oversee cremation others scavenge among the ashes and coals

scavenge among the ashes and coals

scavenge among the ashes and coals whatever touches the dead is theirs to

whatever touches the dead is theirs to

whatever touches the dead is theirs to keep

keep

keep lonna body we have to burn usually has

lonna body we have to burn usually has

lonna body we have to burn usually has golden jewelry on it V siftin take it

the women have no swings the men have

the women have no swings the men have chains and fingerings we take the gold

chains and fingerings we take the gold

chains and fingerings we take the gold and silver off the body the bodies

and silver off the body the bodies

and silver off the body the bodies continue to burn all through the night

spending the night with the dead might

spending the night with the dead might seem like a frightening task look a

seem like a frightening task look a

seem like a frightening task look a hybrid we got back we get habituated to

hybrid we got back we get habituated to

hybrid we got back we get habituated to it and don’t get scared whether we are

it and don’t get scared whether we are

it and don’t get scared whether we are here or on the other side of the river

here or on the other side of the river

here or on the other side of the river we can stay alone in the cremation

we can stay alone in the cremation

we can stay alone in the cremation grounds and we don’t get scared the

grounds and we don’t get scared the

grounds and we don’t get scared the fires continue into mourning as more

fires continue into mourning as more

fires continue into mourning as more bodies are brought down to the river

bodies are brought down to the river

bodies are brought down to the river Fein takes up his post again and

Fein takes up his post again and

Fein takes up his post again and immediately begins building a funeral

immediately begins building a funeral

immediately begins building a funeral pyre his first customers have arrived

pyre his first customers have arrived

pyre his first customers have arrived the family of the deceased gathers

the family of the deceased gathers

the family of the deceased gathers around as dean works it is the

around as dean works it is the

around as dean works it is the traditional role of the firstborn son to

traditional role of the firstborn son to

traditional role of the firstborn son to set fire to the body but first he must

set fire to the body but first he must

set fire to the body but first he must shave his head and dress in white robes

shave his head and dress in white robes

shave his head and dress in white robes Fein leads this firstborn son to the

Fein leads this firstborn son to the

Fein leads this firstborn son to the sacred flame and then leads the man

sacred flame and then leads the man

sacred flame and then leads the man threw the punch Akuma the ritual of

threw the punch Akuma the ritual of

threw the punch Akuma the ritual of circling the body five times

they set fire to the corpse burning

they set fire to the corpse burning bodies is thines only means of survival

bodies is thines only means of survival

bodies is thines only means of survival he lives a Hindu paradox the only way

he lives a Hindu paradox the only way

he lives a Hindu paradox the only way for him to escape the death industry is

for him to escape the death industry is

for him to escape the death industry is to die and to be reborn into a higher

to die and to be reborn into a higher

to die and to be reborn into a higher caste for now the fires will continue to

caste for now the fires will continue to

caste for now the fires will continue to burn and in the city of death life goes

burn and in the city of death life goes

burn and in the city of death life goes on