Along the Ganges, I came across this moment- two men in jeans and sneakers carefully shaving the heads of ascetics, while another sat nearby, waiting his turn. The contrast was striking: the ascetics, dressed in nothing but cloth wraps, undergoing what seemed like a ritual of renunciation, while the barbers, in jeans and sneakers, carried out the task with quiet focus.

Ritual of Renewal
- Photographer: Lela Edgar
- Date: May 10, 2025
- Collection: Hope, Visions of Renewal Competition