Cremation site in Varanasi

This picture was taken at sunrise from a cremation site, in Varanasi (India). It is forbidden to photograph the crematorium itself.
After cremation, the bones and ashes of the deceased are thrown into the Ganges.

Ghat in Varanasi

Today, only bones and ashes are supposed to be scattered into the river. However, who cannot afford the large amount of wood needed to incinerate the entire body leave behind a lot of half-burned body parts. In addition, holy men, pregnant women, people with leprosy, people who had been bitten by snakes, people who had committed suicide, the poor, and children under five are not cremated at the ghats but are floated free to decompose in the waters.