Final answer:
Varanasi is a city that welcomes over one million pilgrims annually, where Hindus believe dying there grants liberation from reincarnation. The practice of cremation along the Ganges River reflects Hindu traditions, with differences in treatment of the dead based on social status and financial means.
Step-by-step explanation:
The city of Varanasi hosts more than one million pilgrims each year. Hindus, constituting a significant portion of India’s population, hold a profound belief that dying in Varanasi offers moksha, a liberation from the cycle of reincarnation. While the question does not specify the exact number of bodies put into the Ganges River, it is known that several ghats along the river are designated for the cremation of the dead. This practice aligns with the Hindu tradition of ritual cremation rather than burial. Due to the sacredness of the Ganges, many Hindus aspire to have their remains laid to rest in or by the river, signifying their return to a holy state. The presence of vultures may also be noted as part of the natural ecology, dealing with the remains of those without means for cremation.