A boat ride on the Ganges at Varanassi is a fascinating experience. Seeing how people perform their different rituals in a river that Hindus see as holy reveals India at her most diverse and complex.
Boat ride on the Ganges
Mon 19/01/04
I got up early in the morning for my boat ride on the Ganges. It was a foggy morning, so unfortunately I didn't get to see the sunrise, the fog certainly added to the atmosphere of the day.
From the clothes washers thrashing clothes on slabs, to the funeral pyres and the boats stacked full of wood. The people bathing in and drinking the water, to the tourists, it was all incredible. Here's a short piece of prose.
Ganges
A rabid dog feasting on the rotting corpse,
Of a dead pig, washed up by the putrid, faecal waters
Of you, Holy Ganges.
Probably not going to go down in history for that one!
Anyway, I went to a couple of temples afterwards. My guide was helpful, and mentioned a couple of interesting things, such as that Hinduism like Christianity has a trinity. Om is the word for this joint godhead, and the individual Gods are just different personalities of the same thing. Bought a silk table cloth and posted it home (looks very good on my wall!).
Read more about my India train travel adventure
Previous day of India travelogues – Darjeeling toy train
Next day of India travelogues – Another night on a train
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