India

ON THE RIGHT SIDE IN ORANGE CLOTH .TWO BODIES AWAIT  CREMATION..

CONSTANT CREMATIONS TAKING PLACE..A NEW FIRE IS READY TO BE LIT.

THE GHATS AT VARANASI...

NON STOP CREMATIONS ON ALL LEVELS..

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Varanasi : Uttar Pradesh.

.Varanasi.. A most interesting destination and one that is extremely religious to the Hindu people.Varanasi is for most the destination to complete their life, for it is here that they will be cremated in one of the many cremation sites along the banks of The sacred Ganges River.
 Varanasi is extremely hot at this time  24 hours a day..so much so that it is difficult to be out in the sun for too long only possible in early morning or late evening for any long period of time. A walk through" The Ghats" The area by the river where the cremations are constantly happening is quite an experience. Where I am staying organises a walking tour that includes a very informative look at "the Ghats" and also a boat trip on the Ganges and passing by many of the cremation sites. Here we see the funeral and cremation process from the river..where the body wrapped in yellow / orange cloth and ribbon is carried down to the river followed by family and friends of the departed.and here it is immersed in the river before before being carried back to its designated area covered with the special "sandalwood" and set alight. The wood id apparently covered with a type of ghee or butter to accelerate the ignition process of the fire. The Sandalwood is chosen as the wood to be used so as to avoid the smell of the burning body..The purchase of the wood is tightly controlled by certain families and I am told that it is a very expensive part of the cremation process for a poor family. The body is cremated on a certain level designated by the river depending on the Class or caste of the person to be cremated. the shoreline is stacked with huge heaps of sandalwood ready to be sold and used in this constant process.
A part of this long tour is a visit to a place where there is what appears to be a concert type celebration with Music, dancing  soon our boat is surrounded by many boats...then hundreds come to this place where there appears to be at least a half a million people..it is incredibly hot..I buy some water from a most welcomed water seller..I tip one over my head..the releif is instant..it must be at least 46 degrees. This Celebration is called the "Ganga Celebration" (Ganga Aartti) and is a Hindu celebration that is held each night at The Ghats by the sacred River, first started in 1992 and has gathered in huge popularity since at the famous "ghat"of Varanasi  Dashashwamedh  Ghat ceremony and is a worship to the Ganga River and Lord Shiva..
 The next day I prepare to leave Varannasi for Agra.. (I have many photos to attatch soon ) thanks for reading..