Varanasi, India… hands down our most transformative travel experience. We’ve wanted to share this story for a long time… to bring a world so far away closer, to illustrate how understanding context can completely change an experience, to allow others to transform through our journey, and to offer our gratitude and love to the people of India who welcomed us and cared for us.
The days we spent immersing ourselves in Varanasi were full of contrasts to everything we’re familiar and comfortable with in the western world. Coming up with words to describe a place so full of life, death, humanity, and spirituality is nearly impossible. So, we’re telling this story with images… welcome to a photo journey to Varanasi, India...
Before we begin, what follows is a little background so you know where we are… Varanasi, also known as Benares or Kashi, is a city on the banks of the Ganges River in northern India. Varanasi is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world and is one of the the seven sacred cities in the Hindu faith. The waters of the Ganges River are considered sacred and followers of the Hindu faith come to Varanasi for several reasons... to walk down the Ghats (steps) that lead to the Ganges River where they wash away sins, to participate in rituals for loved ones who have passed away, including the cremation of the bodies on the Ghats, and to die because Varanasi is considered an auspicious place to die in the Hindu faith.
As the sun rose over the Ganges River we experienced a serenity that was rare in India. Few people were out, and those we saw prayed in silence…
The day began and people started to fill the streets, alleys, Ghats, and river. Much of the activity was familiar… work, gathering with friends, and young boys fishing in the river. However, sprinkled throughout were people praying and performing rituals. Everywhere we looked we were reminded that we were in a sacred place…
The Ghats all had their own feel… some were bursting with people, some were strikingly empty, and others were reserved for cremation. We could sense that little happens without meaning in Varanasi…
We watched as bodies wrapped in burial shrouds were carried on wooden planks down the Ghats and placed on the funeral pyres. Male family members gathered to attend to the bodies as they burned…
As the day turned to dusk the flames created a warm glow around us…
The night came alive with the Ganga Aarti ritual, which takes place on the Dashashwamedh Ghat every night at 7pm. The ritual was spectacular, and as our day ended we felt an amazing energy and celebration for life…
Though the Ghats, Ganges River, and related rituals captivated us, we also experienced Varanasi away from the river… There is an intricate alleyway that leads from the main streets of Varanasi to the Ghats. The alleyway is full of activity… lots of little shops, food vendors, and other businesses. We had fun walking through the alleys for hours in the afternoon. Also, there is Muslim community in Varanasi known for silk weaving… we were fascinated by their hand weaving process and the silk is amazing!
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