Uttarkashi

A priest offering the aarti flames to the devotees and getting donations in return.

A priest offering the holy flames to the pilgrims during the Ganga Aarti evening ceremony at Har-Ki-Pauri in Haridwar. The devotees give some offering in the form of money back to the priests. Things did feel a bit commercialized to me, but maybe thats just the cynic in me talking.

Laying bare infront of mother nature. A Sadhu at Gaumukh, Gangotri.

A Sadhu standing in front of the Gangotri glacier at Gaumukh. The altitude is about 3400m and it could get pretty cold out there. But he is wearing just a loin cloth and a shawl for warmth. Pretty amazing how the human body can be conditioned to cope with the elements. The umbrella serves both as a walking stick and as protection against rain.

Ma Ganga winding her way through the hills of Uttarkashi in Northern India.

The Ganges river, still in its infancy winding through the hills of Uttarkashi in Northern India. Uttarkashi is about 150km downriver from Gangotri glacier one of the main sources of the river. From the glacier the river thunders through the hills of Uttarkashi gradually growing in size as countless streams come join her waters.  Technically here at Uttarkashi the river is not yet called the Ganges. Here it is known as Bhagirathi river.  This photo was taken outside the Sivananda Kutir ashram at Netala. The hills surrounding it contain some of the greenest and prettiest villages i've seen in all of India. It is just a quietly beautiful place, well off the tourist trail.

The winding Ganges river flowing past the Netala village in Uttarkashi

The Ganges river, still in its infancy winding through the hills of Uttarkashi in Northern India. Uttarkashi is about 150km downriver from Gangotri glacier one of the main sources of the river. From the glacier the river thunders through the hills of Uttarkashi gradually growing in size as countless streams come join her waters.  Technically here at Uttarkashi the river is not yet called the Ganges. Here it is known as Bhagirathi river.  This photo was taken outside the Sivananda Kutir ashram at Netala. The hills surrounding it contain some of the greenest and prettiest villages i've seen in all of India. It is just a quietly beautiful place, well off the tourist trail.

Curious Kids

From the Netala village on the outskirts of the Uttarkashi town. We meet these kids almost daily on our evening walks outside the Sivananda Kutir ashram.

Closeup

Taken by a friend during one of the festival ceremonies at the Sivananda kutir ashram in Uttarkashi.

Scores of people crossing the Ram Jhula bridge at Rishikesh.

Pilgrims bathing by the Bhagirathi river (a tributary of Ganges) at Gangotri town.

Never let it touch the ground.

The Kanwar pilgrims never let the water containers touch the ground. They sling the cans around their shoulders while walking and place them on makeshift stands while resting.

Kanwar yatra pilgrims walking on the road between Uttarkashi and Rishikesh.

Kanwar Yatra pilgrims pausing for a moment on the trail between Gangotri town and Gaumukh.

Kanwar Yatra pilgrims pausing for a moment on the trail between Gangotri town and Gaumukh.

Kanwar Yatra Pilgrims going near the Gangotri Glacier for a closer look at Gaumukh.