Public open-air cremations in Varanasi, India, are a significant aspect of Hindu funeral rituals. The city is one of the oldest and holiest cities in India and holds immense religious importance for Hindus. The city is situated on the banks of the sacred Ganga River, and it is believed that cremation in Varanasi helps facilitate the liberation from the cycle of reincarnation.

Families bring the deceased to these ghats (steps that lead from the city down to the river’s edge) to perform the last rites. The process involves various rituals and ceremonies conducted by the family members and priests.