The sacred flames of the evening Ganga Aarti danced against the darkening sky as Vidhi sat quietly on the ghats of Varanasi, watching the divine ritual unfold on the banks of the holy river.

The rhythmic chants, the synchronized movement of the priests holding massive brass lamps, the fragrance of incense mingling with the cool breeze from the Ganga everything felt surreal. The crowd around her was a blend of locals and tourists, people from different cities, different countries, yet united by one common emotion: devotion.