Holy dip in Varanasi

Ganga Snan (holy dip) in Varanasi

Immersing yourself in the Ganga is the oldest and simplest act of devotion in this city: a dip is believed to wash away wrongdoing, and in Varanasi specifically to break the cycle of rebirth. People do it quickly and matter-of-factly: three dips, a mouthful of water offered back to the river, and out.

Traditionally at dawn, from first light to about an hour after sunrise. That is when the ghats are busiest with bathers and when the light is best.