Varanasi, India

mona hindi originated in Varanasi, India – the oldest and holiest Hindu pilgrimage city, located on the sacred Ganges River. Every evening, thousands of people celebrate their faith here. Part of the ritual is adorning oneself with flowers, which are offered for sale by vendors.

The young woman in the picture is one such vendor. For the evening, she has dressed up specially in the colors matching her flowers. Her natural grace captivates the viewer, and her delicate smile is reminiscent of motifs from classical portrait painting.