Varanasi all set for Modi vs Kejriwal fight

The fight between BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and AAP's Arvind Kejriwal has brought Varanasi to the limelight in this Lok Sabha elections. The Indian Express visits this historical city to capture its various moods as it prepares for voting.
The Alamgiri mosque along the ghats of Varanasi presents a perfect symbol of communal harmony. (IE Photo: Oinam Anand)

The ghats of Varanasi are popular tourist spots. (IE Photo: Oinam Anand)

Alamgiri mosque in Varanasi. (IE Photo: Oinam Anand)

A young priest is seen meditating along the ghats of Varanasi. (IE Photo: Oinam Anand)

Children look for coins on the banks of the river Ganga in Varanasi. (IE Photo: Oinam Anand)

Pilgrims get ready to take a dip at a ghat of Varanasi. (IE Photo: Oinam Anand)

A man gets his head shaved after a death in his family near Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi. (IE Photo: Oinam Anand)

Washermen dry clothes along the ghats of Varanasi. (IE Photo: Oinam Anand)

A boy sleeps along a ghat in Varanasi. (IE Photo: Oinam Anand)

A pandit performs aarti at the Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi. (IE Photo: Apurva Singh)

A group of priests dressed in uniform clothes perform the famous Ganga Aarti in Varanasi. (IE Photo: Apurva Singh)

Priests are seen blowing the conch during the Ganga aarti in Varanasi. (IE Photo: Apurva Singh)

People in large number sit on the boats to the watch the Ganga aarti. (IE Photo: Apurva Singh)

Seen here is Manikarnika Ghat, one of the ghats in Varanasi known for Hindu cremation. (IE Photo: Apurva Singh)

People sit on boats to watch the Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi. (IE Photo: Apurva Singh)

A woman is seen walking along the ghats of Varanasi.(IE Photo: Oinam Anand)

A woman takes a holy dip in the Ganges. (IE Photo: Apurva Singh)