Sat atop Siva’s trident is Banaras. The city of light, death, music, and nirvana. Siva’s Kashi, his city. I was an associate producer on a small documentary film set in Varanasi. During this time I took a series of images of our subjects and made some lifelong friends on the way.

The people in these images belong to the ‘Dom’ (Doh-m) community. The Doms are responsible for cremating the dead. A sacred designation granted upon the community, as per Hindu belief. The Dom community are considered “low caste” but are “respected” within the city because of their significance in the business of death.

In Banaras it is believed that the dead do not attain Nirvana until the body is set aflame by a member of the Dom community using an “eternal” flame that has been kept alive for hundreds of years on the burning ghat of the city.

I’ve gone back year after year to sustain my appreciation for death, loss, and grief. These characters watch and wash over us everyday without us knowing. They are vital in my way of viewing the world. I’ve learnt that contrary to popular belief, it is death that is instantaneous and happens in a flash; and in the end, it is life that remains steadfast and carries on.