23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
The Ephemeral and the Eternal
Amidst the roaring funeral pyres of Varanasi, a figure rushes by, rendered as a blur against the sharp flames. This visual contrast reflects the Hindu philosophy of life: the physical body is fleeting and temporary (the blur), while the cycle of creation and destruction is eternal (the fire).
Photo Detail
| Date Taken: | 10.2025 |
| Date Uploaded: | 12.2025 |
| Photo Location: | VARANASI, India |
| Camera: | NIKON Z5_2 |
| Copyright: | © Shubhodeep Roy |