The Hindus associate the city of Varanasi with salvation after death

The camera zooms into a funeral on the steps of a ghat by river Ganga in Varanasi. Wearing a white loincloth, a man lights the pyre. There is no woman in sight. When asked for the reason, a sadhu asserts, “It is said in the holy books that a woman is always impure.” A pandit seconds, “This has been a custom since ancient times. A woman has no role at a funeral.” These voices are part of a two-minute film #mydaughterwill Benaras, released on YouTube a fortnight ago.