PictoQuesto

PictoQuesto PictoQuesto is a small business with a passion for photography, travel and exploration. On a quest to find that perfect picture?

PictoQuesto specialises in travelogue images and world portraits. As a result of our travels, we produce notebooks, postcards and gift books so you can bring the world to your home or office. Visit our website and store at www.pictoquesto.com and contact us any time to let us know what you like about our products, or where we should consider travelling to next.

/~ The art of the Aarti Ceremony ~/ The morning aarti ceremony on the Varanasi Ghats featured seven Hindu priests. Some...
12/05/2026

/~ The art of the Aarti Ceremony ~/ The morning aarti ceremony on the Varanasi Ghats featured seven Hindu priests. Some of the objects used in the ritual include a triangular diya or lamp (representing the element of fire and symbolising purity, removal of darkness or ignorance), a serpent-adorned lamp (Shiva, spiritual energy), a peacock feather fan (symbolising wind or vayu) and a yak-tail fan (symbolising space or akasha). A conch shell, or shankha, is blown like a trumpet at the beginning or end, and hymns are sung throughout the ceremony.
πŸ“· Natasha Emerson - Varanasi, India 2025

/~ Lord Buddha at Sarnath ~/ 80-foot-tall Standing Lord Buddha at the Wat Thai Temple and Monastery was inspired by the...
11/05/2026

/~ Lord Buddha at Sarnath ~/ 80-foot-tall Standing Lord Buddha at the Wat Thai Temple and Monastery was inspired by the monumental Buddhas of Bamiyan in Afghanistan. It took 14 years to construct and was unveiled in 2011.

The Abhaya Mudra gesture is one of the most common and significant hand gestures in Buddhist art and practice, representing peace, and the dispelling of fear for those who are seeking solace and strength.
πŸ“· Natasha Emerson
Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India - November 2025

/~ Offerings to remove darkness ~/ Bowls of flowers in readiness for tealight candles to be lit and sent on their journ...
09/05/2026

/~ Offerings to remove darkness ~/ Bowls of flowers in readiness for tealight candles to be lit and sent on their journey on the Ganges River as part of the candlelight aarti ceremony. The purpose of aarti is to wave light before the deity in a spirit of humility and gratitude. While the ritual is performed eight times a day by Hindus, aarti means 'before night' and symbolically 'removes darkness' and so the evening ritual is most common.
πŸ“· Natasha Emerson
Varanasi, India - November 2025

/~ Simplicity ~/ Ascetic on the ghats, Varanasi. Specifically he is a Shaiva Hindu identifiable by the Tilaka (Tripundr...
08/05/2026

/~ Simplicity ~/ Ascetic on the ghats, Varanasi. Specifically he is a Shaiva Hindu identifiable by the Tilaka (Tripundra) on his forehead.
πŸ“· Emerson
Varanasi, India - November 2025

/~ Shiva Devotee ~/ The three horizontal lines on this man's forehead indicate he is a follower of Shiva. This Tripundr...
06/05/2026

/~ Shiva Devotee ~/ The three horizontal lines on this man's forehead indicate he is a follower of Shiva. This Tripundra or Rudra-tilaka is one of the major tilakas, and the most ancient one. It consists of three horizontal bands across the forehead with a single vertical band or circle in the middle. It is usually applied to the forehead at the point of the ajna chakra (third eye or spiritual eye). Tilakas can be marked with ash from sacrificial fire or cow dung, sandalwood paste, turmeric, clay, charcoal or red lead.
πŸ“· Natasha Emerson - India, November 2025

/~ Pray ~/ Praying near Mansarowar Ghat, Varanasi.- India, November 2025πŸ“· Natasha Emerson ❀️
06/05/2026

/~ Pray ~/ Praying near Mansarowar Ghat, Varanasi.
- India, November 2025
πŸ“· Natasha Emerson
❀️

/~ Marriage on the Ganges ~/ A wedding ceremony being performed on the banks of the Ganges at Dashashwamedh Ghat.Photog...
05/05/2026

/~ Marriage on the Ganges ~/ A wedding ceremony being performed on the banks of the Ganges at Dashashwamedh Ghat.

Photographed in November, which is wedding season. The timing typically comes right after the end of Chāturmāsa, a four-month period in the Hindu ritual calendar when many families avoid auspicious ceremonies because Vishnu is considered asleep.
πŸ“· Natasha Emerson

/~ Rana Mahal Ghat ~/ Believers waiting for the aarti ceremony at Rana Mahal Ghat. Despite my best efforts to engage in...
04/05/2026

/~ Rana Mahal Ghat ~/ Believers waiting for the aarti ceremony at Rana Mahal Ghat. Despite my best efforts to engage in discussion, these devotees remained unsmiling and unwilling to talk but did allow me to take their photo which I was grateful for. They were in stark contrast to the majority of visitors and faithful who were full of energy and celebrating joyous events on the ghats.

- Varanasi., India (November 2025) πŸ“· Natasha Emerson

/~ Baba Ji ~/ Guru near Darbhanga Ghat, Varanasi.India - November 2025πŸ“· Natasha Emerson
03/05/2026

/~ Baba Ji ~/ Guru near Darbhanga Ghat, Varanasi.
India - November 2025
πŸ“· Natasha Emerson

/~ Go Fish ~/ Fishing in the Ganges at Jain Ghat.Varanasi, India - November 2025πŸ“· Natasha Emerson
02/05/2026

/~ Go Fish ~/ Fishing in the Ganges at Jain Ghat.
Varanasi, India - November 2025
πŸ“· Natasha Emerson

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