Ganges of Changes

• Prize
• Photographer
  Dima Gavrysh, United States
• Date of Photograph
  online
• Studio
  Associated Press
• Website
  http://www.dimagavrysh.com

Varanasi, the city that was already old when Buddha was young, is not
immune to change.

The city of god Shiva is one of the top Hindu pilgrimage sites and an
auspicious place to die. For thousands of years, the city has drawn
devotees for a dip in the holy Ganges. However, now a different crowd
also flocks to Varanasi. Tourists from all over the world come to see
and experience this ancient and holy city.

Advertisements have sprung up along the ghats, or bathing steps,
announcing guest houses, restaurants, internet cafes, yoga classes,
and other services catering to foreigners. Varanasi now has an
airport, connecting it to other Indian cities. Tour buses line narrow
streets and camera-clad tourists come out at dawn to photograph Hindus
bathing in the river at sunrise.

The city has been adjusting to its newcomers. Informal rules have been
created to smooth out the co-existence of devotees and onlookers. The
income generated by tourism is allowing to restore flood-damages ghats
and to improve the city. Greater donations and volunteer work go
towards the effort to clean up the Ganges and to improve sanitation.

The change is neither good nor evil in the absolute. Shiva is the god
of destruction, showing that some things need to pass away in order to
allow new creation. Otherwise, the natural cycle of life will cease to
continue.

Dima Gavrysh is Ukrainian-born New York City-based photographer.

Dima started his career in the mid-90's in Kiev, Ukraine. In the past 10 years, he has worked with major news agencies such as Associated Press, EPA and Bloomberg News.

Also, work with MSF (Medecins Sans Frontieres / Doctors Without Borders), UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) and U.S. Army.

Dima's work has been published in magazines and newspapers worldwide including The New York Times, Time, People, Paris Match, Independent, Marie Claire, Stern and Newsweek.


Dima is available for assignments throughout the world.