Doomsday 

Being cremated at Manikarnika Ghat, on the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi is the ideal end for any Hindu devotee, as this is believed to lead a soul to Moksha, out of the cycle of rebirth. Doms, a particular section of untouchables, undertake the duty of cremation of the dead bodies. An obscure Dom Kingdom has survived for ages in Varanasi around this lucrative business and, as in every kingdom, here there are masters and servants too, both dealing with death as it is: a mere matter of predestination.

Durga Prasad is a Dom Raj servant. His main duty is doing housework in his owner's house. He's still young, and he can only work 9-10 days a month at the pyres earning a few dollars to give to his family in the countryside. But his destiny seems to be unquestionable: breathing the smoke of burning flesh, he'll give a way to Moksha to thousands of souls, till his last day will also come. 

Fausto Podavini was born in Rome, he works and lives in his home town. He obtained a Master's Degree in Reportage from the Photographic Academy John Kaverdash in Milan.

After starting work as a studio photographer, he decided to concentrate his work on reportage as a freelance, collaborating with different NGOs to realise reportages in Italy, Peru, Kenya and Ethiopia.

In 2009 he started to collaborate with WSP Photographers and he joined the group in 2010, where alongside the photographer's role he is also a teacher of photojournalism.

In addition to various reports in Africa, South America and India, he has carried out important work in Italy, such as a report on sport for disabled people, a job in a juvenile prison and a work on Alzheimer's disease.

Currently, he is carrying out photographic work in Kashmir and in Ethiopia.

Amongst the different acknowledgements obtained, in addition to the 2013 World Press Photo, he won the 2013 Sony Awards, the 2013 and 2015 PX3, the 2015 SIPA, the 2013 Vilnius Photo Circle, the 2013 SDN, the 2014 and 2015 MIFA, the PDN in the Photojournalism/Sports/Documentary in 2012, the World Report Awards in 2011, followed by several honourable mentions in contests at worldwide level (Leica, KLM, Marie Claire).

He has also published in numerous magazines and his photography have been exhibited in different cities such as Rome, Milan, Buenos Aires, New York, Paris, London, Kuala Lumpur, Barcelona and Madrid.