23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Prayer Amongst the Pyres
A devotee stands in silent prayer surrounded by the burning funeral pyres of Varanasi. In this sacred cremation ground, fire is revered as 'Agni,' the messenger that carries the soul to the afterlife. His stillness amidst the roaring flames captures the acceptance of mortality.
Photo Detail
| Date Taken: | 10.2025 |
| Date Uploaded: | 12.2025 |
| Photo Location: | VARANASI, India |
| Camera: | NIKON Z5_2 |
| Copyright: | © Shubhodeep Roy |