This morning we left the hotel at 6:00 to ride the bus to the Ganges. It was still dark outside, but the narrow streets were well-lit when we got out to walk to the riverbank. We saw lines of people walking who were carrying ashes. When we got to the river, we stepped down steep concrete stairs to get to our large rowboat. I am glad I followed Ranvir’s suggestion to being my trekking poles.
Our city guide told us a lot about the various religions of the people here and their cremation tradition. We watched the sunrise over the river and watched the funeral pyres in one location. Elsewhere, people were throwing ashes in the river. Along this river bank in one of the houses, the Beatles stayed for a while and wrote, “Here Comes the Sun.” Other movie stars stayed in this area too. We disembarked the boat and walked along the bank among the colorfully dressed people, cows, and even a snake charmer. We then rode the bus back to the hotel to eat breakfast.
At 10:30 we went to the silk place next door to the hotel. It was fascinating to watch weavers working at the looms making fabric for Saris. It was interesting to learn about the design system using cards attached to the looms. The artists can pick the colors. I didn’t pass up the opportunity to purchase some exquisite scarves. Varanasi is known for their hand-loomed silk.
I barely had time to take my purchase to the room before it was time to go to a Buddhist museum that had lots of artifacts. After that, we walked to the place where Buddha gave his first philosophical talk.
We returned to the hotel, then at dusk we rode rode electric tuk-tuks back to the riverbank. It is crazy how people drive here with their horns blaring and barely missing cyclists, pedestrians, and other vehicles.
We got in the boat and were rowed to the place on the riverbank where there were at least eleven funeral pyres. After that, we watched young priests perform a ceremony giving thanks for the day that has just passed. We then walked to tuk-tuks for another wild ride back to the hotel.
