In a special set of portraits titled “Holy Men”, Brooklyn-based photographer Joey L unveils the wandering souls of Varanasi, by profiling the ascetic monks who have renounced all earthy possessions in their pursuit of spiritual liberation. The pictures capture their stark personalities, immersing you into a world of austere existences and sacred dispositions.

Joey has also written up some background information in a blog post if you’d like to learn more about the city, the culture, and the subjects in these photographs. You can follow along with Joey’s latest work through his blog and his Twitter account.

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