A place to die
Indian Hindus and Jains flock to the city of Varanasi, or Banaras, to die on the banks of the holy Ganges River. Doing so, they believe, releases their soul from the damnation of reincarnation.
Waiting for death
The ancient city of Kashi - also known as Banares or Varanasi - in Uttar Pradesh is considered to be the religious capital of India. It is considered so holy that if people die or cremated here, they attain spiritual liberation. Many people thus come here to wait for death.
Salvation homes
People from different parts of India come to Varanasi to rent rooms in hotels, where they live out their last days. Moksha Bhawan, which means Salvation Home, is one such place where up to 100 people are renting rooms for a one-time payment of 800 – 1,200 USD. Some have lived here for 10 - 15 years.
Spiritual Hospice
Mukti Bhawan is one such hospice where people come to rent a deathbed. They listen to Aarti, a special prayer ritual, three times a day and devotional songs are played from a stereo the entire day. The place charges 20 cents per day for a room where patients and families stay until they draw their final breath.
Holy cremation
Manikarnika Ghat is the primary cremation ground for Hindus in Varanasi. It is believed that if one's body is burned here, then all sins are forgiven and the person attains release and can reside in heaven. Locals say that a funeral pyre burns at this spot every day, almost round the clock.
No other retirement option
This couple lives at the Moksha Bhawan. They left their family home because of mistreatment by their son and daughter-in-law. Because they had nowhere else to go, they are renting a room here and live off of their meager savings.
Salvation
It is believed that anyone who dies in Varanasi will attain salvation, which means that person will not be reborn. This woman has traveled from the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh to break her cycle of reincarnation.
Cycle of life
These women spend the rest of their time on earth praying, talking, and tending to the garden. They say they are waiting for the end of human life at a holy place, so they can escape the cycle of birth and death.