Varanasi
Written by matt + jen on September 14th, 2008
Main Ghat (steps down to the Ganges). Every Maharaja had a palace built here along the riverside.
Bathing at sunrise in the Ganges. That’s an Indian person, not one of us.
The ‘burning’ ghat. There’s a hospice next door where the elderly and sick go – they believe that if they die in Varanasi they will go straight to heaven. Most bodies are burned and the ashes put in the Ganges. There are three tiers of fires depending on what caste someone is, each with a different type of wood. The bodies and fires are looked after by the untouchables.
Women washing in the morning.
Sadhus chilling out.
At night lots of people float candles on the water.
Evening ceremony, which lasts an hour and a half and takes place everyday.
14
PM
Hi Matt and Jen. Just checked in on your site as i’ve been away too.
WOW, it looks like you have seen so many different things, looks really good. Love some of the photos you have been taking. Do all the Sadus where orange? I was wondering as in one of my books their in red, I didn’t know if there was any significance. Ok take care
17
PM
Hi Michael,
Good to hear from you. No idea about the Sadhus, but all the ones we’ve seen seem to wear orange. Hope you had a good trip, France wasn’t it?