When people ask me what I think of Varanassi the only reply I can think of is..."its different" this is the weirdest most surreal city I have ever been to m, it was neither awful or amazing... just different.
Varanasi is the city that Indians come to to die. With the Ganges river running through the centre, it is the most polluted river in the world, but despite this the waters activity is still so lively.
We arrived in Varanasi by train and found a cost guesthouse by the ganges river and straightaway went exploring. The City's population bathe, swim, wash clothes, play, clean themselves and catch fish in here...I was surprised there were fish in there as I was concerned about getting a drop of the water on me. (Fish was off the menu!) As well as this happening, the reason for people going to live out the remainder of the lives in the city is because this is where funerals take place. Due to the heat when someone passes the body cannot be left for too long so a couple of hours after the death the family go to the gangees register the death, receive a certificate permitting the funeral to rake place. The body is wrapped up and washed in the river whilst the son of the person has to shave there head leaving a small bit of hair then also wash in the ganges. Next wood is brought and the base of a fire us made the body put on top and then using the everlasting flame a fire made. It take 3 hours approx when the fire starts to the end. Before going to the city I knew this happened so was a little concerned about how I feel, but when seeing I was surprised at how surreal it was so disconnected the family don't cry its like a system rather than a funeral, the woman and children of the family are not able yo attend incase they cry or jump in the fire. If a pregnant woman, child, leaper, holy man or someone bitten by a snake dies they don't get burnt as there soul is already pure and they are just put in the middle of the river.
There is a ceremony at the end of each day where everyone gathers and smoke is blown everywhere.
In the morning we got up early and saw the sunrise, even though we got up early it was well worth it and beautiful colour filling the river and the city.
I had a delicious meal of biryani rice and dry mixed vegetable curry.
We also saw some temples here the security was so heightened and I felt like i was intruding on a deep spiritual time of people bur it was interesting to see and the people seemed very serene and content. There are many rituals that they go by but they are willing to explain and teach which I was pleased about.
Silk is a large part of Varanasi and although most of it is fake we were able to see a traditional silk factory in action which was very interesting to see.
Next I am going alone and getting a train to Kolkata for my last couple of days in India before Thailand.
Inventory: same
Belly: 70% mediocre
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