Life on the Ganges: The mystics, street children and pilgrims who spend their lives on the banks of India's most sacred river

The ghats are the local name given to the steps that lead down to the sacred waters of the River Ganges

On them live the Sadhus - ascetic Hindu holy men - who share them with pilgrims from all over the world

Locals and their children also spend much of their time on the ghats, whether praying or working

Incredible photos are the work of American snapper, Vicente Pamparo, who travelled to Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh

Varanasi is one of the seven Hindu holy cities and is believed to have been founded by the god Shiva

They come to beg for help with money problems, ask for healing for their children and to wash away sin but it isn't a shrine that makes pilgrims flock to the Indian city of Varanasi.

Instead, it's the Ganges river and the Sadhus (holy men) who live on its banks that has proved the real draw. The holiest of the seven holy cities of Hinduism, the 'ghats' or steps leading down to the Ganges are home to more holy men than anywhere else in India.

Now their austere lifestyle on the edge of the waterway is the subject of a stunning set of new images by American photographer Vicente Pamparo, which sheds light on the vibrant community that has grown up around them.

(Holy: A Sadhu meditates on one of the 'ghats' or steps that lead down to the sacred Ganges river in the Indian city of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh)

(A Sadhu with a traditional drawing painted on his face)

(Most Sadhus wear saffron for Shiva and yellow or white for Vishnu)

(On the water: Varanasi is on the banks of the sacred River Ganges and is thought to have been founded by the Hindu god Shiva more than three millennia ago)

(An elderly man sits on a boat drawn up next to the ghats)

(A Shiva devotee living on the ghats of Varanasi)

'Most of the spiritual prayers, meditations and daily life occur near the ghats,' explains Pamparo. 'I spent several weeks walking along the ghats documenting the everyday things that occur in the area.'

But it was the presence of the Sadhus that really intrigued Pamparo. 'Varanasi is the holiest of the seven sacred cities in Hinduism and also played an important role in the development of Buddhism,' he explains.

'The holy men who congregate to the area are religious ascetics who have essentially given up the normal way of life and have turned towards monastic life or have become religious nomads. 'In general, these ascetics have turned towards poverty and celibacy and largely depend on alms for their survival. The ascetics are usually seen with a staff, a water pot, an alms bowl and sometimes a human skull.

(Ascetic: A devotee of the god Shiva in his saffron longhi)

(Tiring: A pair of youthful worshippers take a break from prayers, spending it meditating (and sleeping) on mats set down on the stone steps)

(Pilgrims congregate next to the Ganges)

(The ghats on the edge of the Ganges are always busy)

(Abandoned: A bicycle lies abandoned on one of the ghats leading down to the Ganges in the ancient city of Varanasi which dates back more than 3,000 years)

(A pilgrim wanders towards the mist-enveloped river)

(Despite being a holy site, the banks of the river are thronged with people)

(Entertainment: A pair of small boys canter their horse along a white sandy river beach - no saddle, it seems, required)

Those with skulls are known as the Aghori; an intense type of Sadhu who venture far beyond austerity and make it their life's work to overcome taboos, whether by meditating over corpses or even, occasionally, eating human flesh.

{{Others show their allegiance to Hinduism by wearing saffron-yellow longhis (tunics) if they happen to be a devotee of Shiva or yellow and white for Vishnu, and paint their faces with sacred scenes and symbols.

But although Pamparo says he was fascinated by the Sadhu, he says he was most impressed by the local children - many of whom spend their time away from school creating mini-businesses of their own.

'We were walking along the ghats and noticed some of the children collecting plastic bottles,' remembers Pamparo. 'We approached them and through our translator found out that they were two sisters collecting bottles to sell and recycle.

They told us about their aspirations and how much money they make selling the bottles which was about $2 (approximately £1.10) on a good week. I asked if I could take a photograph of her.

'She then motioned to me that she wanted her sack of bottles to be in the photograph with her. I couldn't help but notice her humility in this moment and it really hit me emotionally.'}}

(Business: This little girl makes $2 a week from her extra-curricular bottle collecting business)

(Dedication: Like many others, this man has dedicated his life to serving Shiva)

(Excitement: A little boy plays with a disposable camera)

(According to Vicente, the local children were thrilled to have their photo taken)

(Varanasi location)

INSIDE THE INDIAN JERUSALEM: THE CITY FOUNDED BY A GOD THAT DRAWS PILGRIMS FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE With a history that stretches back almost 3000 years and links with Islam and Buddhism as well as Sikhism, Varanasi is one of the holiest cities in the world. Now a modern metropolis with an estimated 1.2 million inhabitants, the Uttar Pradesh city remains an important centre for pilgrims and is the Eastern equivalent of Jerusalem, Mecca or Rome.

Unlike the other three however, Varanasi, thought by Hindus to have been founded by the deity Shiva, is home to a set of hermits known as Sadhu who live and pray on the ghats (steps) that line the banks of the Ganges.

They share their space with pilgrims who flock to the city to cleanse themselves of sin in the river's waters or even, in the case of the old or terminally ill, to await their deaths.

Like the other six holy Hindu cities, expiring while in Varanasi is considered auspicious because it offers moksha - a lasting release from the cycle of birth and death.

Others visit to see the stunning architectural legacy left by the Mughal dynasty, who spent centuries beautifying the city in honour of its founder, Shiva, and the imposing Ramnagar Fort; a British-built edifice that overlooks the city from the other side of the Ganges.

Ref: Life on the Ganges: The mystics, street children and pilgrims who spend their lives on the banks of India's most sacred river (dailymail)