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International House
12 College Park
Davis, CA 95616
June 8 - Sept 12, 2001
The photographs for this exhibit are from three holy cities on the Ganges River in India. Haridwar and Rishikesh are in northern India where the Ganges emerges from the Himalayas to begin its progress across the plains. These cities are very holy places for Indians. They have many Ashrams and the Ganges is the site of many prayers by Indians who come to have the river wash away their sins. Priests perform a river worship ceremony every evening, and every 12 years the Kumba Mela takes place in Haridwar, attracting millions of pilgrims.
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Varanasi is an ancient city on the banks of the Ganges in Uttar Pradesh state. The city is over 2000 years old, and has been a center Buddhist, Muslim and Hindu learning and civilization. The city is famous for its ghats, which are the steps leading down to the river. The ghats are the site of bathing by residents and pilgrims to Varanasi. There are two burning ghats where bodies are cremated after making their final journey to the holy Ganges.
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Praying in the Ganges, Varanasi |
All three of these cities are intimately tied to the Ganges River. People on the river reflect the enormous range of Indian people and life&emdash;maharajas, beautiful sari-clad women, Brahmin priests, men doing contortionists yoga exercises, kids playing in the water, beggars. These people, and their connection to the Ganges, are the subject of this exhibit.
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