MANIKARNIKA

Manikarnika Ghat (मणिकर्णिकाघाट) is one of the holiest cremation grounds among the sacred riverfronts (ghats), alongside the river Ganga, in the city of Varanasi in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. In Hinduism, death is considered as a gateway to another life marked by the results of one's karma. It is believed that a dead human's soul attains moksha, and hence breaks the cycle of rebirth when cremated here. Thus, scores of the elderly across the whole country seek to walk up to its edges, and spend their last days absorbing the charisma of the ghat making death painless and insignificant to be pondered upon.

In 2017 I spent countless hours at this place where life and death constantly float into each other. Place where fire turns human flesh into ash days and nights. Place of colors, cows, Untouchables, shaving razors, flames, chants, smoke of wood, tea, rites, glitters, dogs, flowers, bamboos, bones, joy, chants and very few teardrops.

From images, memories and emotions gathered I’ve been continuously working on the MANIKARNIKA painting series.

Never before was my palette as colorful.

                         © BARBAR