20th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Sadhu

The pilgrims in Varanasi are many, because it is an ancient sacred city. This created a problem of fake guru. These people who want to earn on wealthy tourists and pretend to be spiritual mentors. Guru depicted on the photo, not from their number. He lives in an ashram that is built next to the banyan. It is customary, if possible, to bring offerings for the community: tea, cereals, fruits, incense, marijuana. Every day before the evening puja, the guru's disciple (in the photo he in white clothes) prepares food for everyone who came. During the day, he makes tea, does the cleaning and executes small orders of the guru. On photo he cuts incense. In orange clothes the believer parishioner. In ashram I saw him not once, he comes every day to worship Shiva. Sadhu drinks tea. I'm curious that I've never seen him eating. I was told that he never eats, but sometimes he likes to drink lassie. Perhaps that's why he's so slender, but how does he live so long?

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2022
Date Uploaded: 11.2022
Photo Location: Varanasi, India
Camera: X-E1
Copyright: © Hanna Burdo