23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
The Final Duty
A chief mourner, head shaved and dressed in white ritual robes, stands amidst the cremation fires of Manikarnika Ghat. Behind him leans the submerged Ratneshwar Mahadev temple. In this ancient space, he oversees the final rites, fulfilling his sacred duty to the departed.
Photo Detail
| Date Taken: | 10.2025 |
| Date Uploaded: | 12.2025 |
| Photo Location: | Kolkata, India |
| Camera: | NIKON Z5_2 |
| Copyright: | © Shubhodeep Roy |