Tourists watch body bathed in River Ganges and traditional Hindu cremation on funeral pyre at Manikarnika Ghat in Holy City of Varanasi, Benares, India

Body burning on funeral pyre at Hindu cremation at Manikarnika crematorium Ghat in Holy City of Varanasi, Benares, India

Tourists watch body bathed in River Ganges and traditional Hindu cremation on funeral pyre at Manikarnika Ghat in Holy City of Varanasi, Benares, India

Body bathed in River Ganges and traditional Hindu cremation on funeral pyre at Manikarnika Ghat in Holy City of Varanasi, Benares, India

Body burning on funeral pyre at Hindu cremation at Manikarnika crematorium Ghat in Holy City of Varanasi, Benares, India

Fire ritual at chiwang monastery during the mani rimdu festival. these monks circumambulate the pyre after its ignition. one holds a long book wrapped in a felicitous scarf. the purifying fire takes the offering and raises them towards the sky in smoke. the circumambulatory ritual also recalls the way disciples showed respect for the buddhas body. solu khumbu, nepal

Nepal. Ritual, sonam/boom. Lobsangs cremation. Humla. traveler reached of journey! In freedom of infinite he is free from sorrow, fetters that bound thrown away, burning fever of life is no more,oesays dharmapada. Lobsang having spent whole life preparing moment of death, finds liberation on february 14, 1986. Extensive ritual follows cremation-traditionally a forty nine period, sonam lama rattles damaru. A small ritual drum to have origin in - shamanism. damaru, used as a tantric device to summon gods ward evil spirits, once made from human skull bone dreid human skin as a reminder of impermanence of body. Boom lama blows a kangling, a human thigh-bone horn. kangling is used in exorcism is capable of gods demons. Traditionally, best bones a kangling come from brahmans, particularly sixteen-year- brahman girls-or from tigers. On makeshift altar rest chhome, votive lamps filled with butter, cups of water, grains, tormas, holy food made of barley meal decorated with medallions of butter offered to gods. Alone, boom lama continues prayers of deceased

Cremation of bodies, in Manikarnika Ghat, the burning ghat, on the banks of Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Cremation of a body, in Manikarnika Ghat, the burning ghat, on the banks of Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Manikarnika Ghat, the burning ghat, on the banks of Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Cremation of bodies, in Manikarnika Ghat, the burning ghat, on the banks of Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

People carry a body, to burn, going to Manikarnika Ghat, the burning ghat, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Person who recovers wood used in cremation, which has not burned completely, in Manikarnika Ghat, the burning ghat, on the banks of Ganges river, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Fire artist performing at an evening event held for tourists in Honduras, Central America

Fire artist performing at an evening event held for tourists in Honduras, Central America

Traditional funeral, untouchable priest of the lowest caste tending pyre, Pashupatinath, Nepal, Asia

Traditional funeral, people standing around a body on a pyre, while an untouchable priest of the lowest caste spreads wet reed over the body, Pashupatinath, Nepal, Asia

Fire artist performing at an evening event held for tourists in Honduras, Central America

Fire artist performing at an evening event held for tourists in Honduras, Central America

Cremation, Pashupatinath ghats at Bagmati River, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Fire-fighting exercise on the water with fire-fighting boat RLP-1, Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, Europe

Aerial view, smoke, fire on a scrap island in the Duisport inland port, Duisburg, Ruhrgebiet region, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe

Aerial view, smoke, fire on a scrap island in the Duisport inland port, Duisburg, Ruhrgebiet region, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe

Cricket game in front of Burning Ghat cremation ground, Varanasi, India, South Asia

Aerial view, smoke, fire on a scrap island in the Duisport inland port, Duisburg, Ruhrgebiet region, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe

Aerial view, smoke, fire on a scrap island in the Duisport inland port, Duisburg, Ruhrgebiet region, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe

Smoking traditional cremation pyre, Pashupatinath, Nepal, Asia

Fire dancer with torches, La Playa, Valle Gran Rey, La Gomera, Canary Islands, Spain, Europe

Burning pyres with visible body in a traditional funeral, Pashupatinath, Nepal, Asia

Aerial view, smoke, fire on a scrap island in the Duisport inland port, Duisburg, Ruhrgebiet region, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe

People standing around a Sonnwendfeuer bonfire, Johannifeuer, Upper Bavaria, Bavaria, Germany, Europe