Joey L.

Ascetic priest Baba Vijay Nund rows a boat along the Ganges River. Varanasi, India

Vijay Nund performing morning rituals in the Ganges River, the most sacred river in Hinduism. Varanasi, India

Aghori sadhus cover themselves with human ash, which is the last rite of the material body. Varanasi, India

The Aghori have a profound connection with the dead. Death is not a fearsome concept, but a passing from the world of illusion. Varanasi, India

Aghori sadhus inside a sunken Shiva temple at Scindia Ghat, on the banks of the River Ganges. Varanasi, India

When he was young, Lal Baba’s parents arranged a marriage for him. Uncertain about his future, he ran away from home in Bihar Siwan and took up the lifelong task of becoming a sadhu. Varanasi, India


Lal Baba has dreadlocks (jatas) several meters long, which have been growing for over 40 years. To sadhus, dreadlocks are a sign of renunciation and a life dedicated to spirituality. Varanasi, India

Lal Baba’s life is to travel. Even at 85 years old, he will continue to travel from holy place to holy place in India and Nepal. Varanasi, India

Magesh left a well paid job as an IT computer consultant to pursue to path of Aghora. After years of practice, he finds no temptation to return to his old life. Varanasi, India

Magesh left a well paid job as an IT computer consultant to pursue to path of Aghora. After years of practice, he finds no temptation to return to his old life. Varanasi, India

Varanasi, India

Ram Das beside boat wreckage in Varanasi, India.

Varanasi, India

Batuk Student, Varanasi, India


Batuk Student, Varanasi, India

Batuk Students, Varanasi, India

Batuk Student, Varanasi, India

Baba Mooni conducting Aghori Puja in Varanasi, India

Baba Mooni conducting Aghori Puja in Varanasi, India

Baba Mooni conducting Aghori Puja in Varanasi, India

Baba Vijay Nund on the steps of Chet Singh Ghat on the banks of the Ganges River. Varanasi, India

Baba Vijay Nund outside his ashram on the banks of the Ganges River. Varanasi, India

Varanasi, India

Sunken temple in Varanasi, India

One of the few rare women to take on the the task of becoming a Sadhvi. She has not cut her hair since her husband died, making the ends of the dreadlocks over 10 years old at the time the photograph was taken. Kathmandu, Nepal

Aba Yohannis monastery - 74 years old
"I came from my village, from the countryside to learn. I didn't go home. I preferred to stay here. I've been here for 43 years. "

Aba Yohannis monastery - 74 years old
"My father was a priest and when my mom died, he became a monk. I followed."

Gashaw Mesganaw is a deacon studying to become a monk at Abuna Aron, a cave monastery in Northern Ethiopia. This holy place is known for its beam of light is visable only when the sun aligns with the hole in its ceiling.
"Fear? I have no fear because I follow God"

"Fear? I have no fear because I follow God"

Aba Geafael Asyashaye- 52 years old, Abuna Yemata Guh

Aba Gebha Madhen Bahta lives in Debre Damo, a remote monastery in Ethiopia accessible by rope leading up a 17 meter wall. No women are allowed to enter.

Debre Damo

"I became a nun when my daughters passed away."

Mother Harya, a nun of Abraham Atsbeha. She poses against the ancient doors of a former Pagan church, which has been converted to an Orthodox Christian place of worship. Only on one day of the year, the stone pillars inside leak holy water.

"Perhaps I will live even longer than 101, maybe 101 years more. I know a monk who is 80 years old, but he acts very old. He is not like me."

Aba Kenafa Tesfamarem, Debre Damo

Yemrehanna Kristos - 25 years old
A regular worshipper of Yemrehanna Kristos.

Keas Hable Mariyam, the monk of the cavern church, poses on top of an estimated 5740 remaining pilgrim corpses. "Most of them came from Jerusalem and now they remain here to rest." Lalibela, Ethiopia

A pilgrim's corpse rests at Yemrehanna Kristos, Lalibela Ethiopia.