Sex workers dance around burning pyres, uphold 5-century-old tradition in Varanasi

Maintaining the age-old tradition, a group of ‘Nagar Vadhus’ (sex workers) danced around the burning pyres at the Manikarnika Ghat of Varanasi on Tuesday night, reports Binay Singh. As per the tradition, these women used to perform before the Mahasmashan Nath (God of the cremation site) on the seventh night of the Chaitra Navratri — which is also the concluding day of the threeday ‘Shringar Mahotsava’ of Baba Mahashmashan Nath. Before the performance, the women offered prayers at the temple of Mahashamshan Nath at the ghat — wishing to get salvation hoping for a better next life.