Death permeates Varanasi, but it is considered a place of light, not darkness. This program guides viewers through the holy city, revealing its close ties to the river Ganges. Topics include an introduction to the city and its role as a sacred place in which to die; the Hindu view of the Ganges as a liquid form of God; how ghats, or stone steps for prayer and meditation, line the shores of the river in Varanasi; the city’s identification with the god Shiva; the Hindu concept of rebirth according to laws of cause and effect, or karma; the Hindu focus on puja, or worship, part of daily life; and burial rites that take place daily on the River Ganges, including the occurrence of funeral pyres across the city. A Discovery Channel Production. (23 minutes)