Pilgrims on Manikarnika Ghat, Varanasi

There isn’t an artist not touched by the holy city of Varanasi, not just by its throbbing ancient spirt but also by its living vitality, colours, sights and sounds, and even smell. Indra Dugar, therefore, took a break from his preferred muted palette for landscapes to create this tempera work, animated by busy human activity on its most important ghat (bank) by the Ganga, the Manikarnika Ghat, considered one of the holiest cremation grounds among Hindus. The bright colours on a sunny day at the ghat capture the spirit of the place, counter-balanced by a placid Ganga in the background.