There are over 80 ghats along the Ganges River in Varanasi. These ghats are "steps" leading to the River. Cremation takes place right on the "steps", day and night. At night the pyres look like huge bonfires with smoke and sparks rinsing to the sky. The ashes are dumped directly into the river, along with parts of the body that are not completely cremated. The river bank is full of pilgrims. They wash, pray, and bathe in the River. The crowd and noise and stench are overwhelming. I have never seen spectacle like this. It was, indeed, surreal.
Wow, how similar it is to the pilgrims making the trip to Jerusalem to die and waited for the Judgement Day to be resurrected. It turned Jerusalem into a city of charnel house.
Dear Joe,
ReplyDeleteAmzing pictures of beggars and the flames from funeral pyres?
Wei
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ReplyDeleteDear Wei:
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right!
There are over 80 ghats along the Ganges River in Varanasi. These ghats are "steps" leading to the River. Cremation takes place right on the "steps", day and night. At night the pyres look like huge bonfires with smoke and sparks rinsing to the sky. The ashes are dumped directly into the river, along with parts of the body that are not completely cremated. The river bank is full of pilgrims. They wash, pray, and bathe in the River. The crowd and noise and stench are overwhelming. I have never seen spectacle like this. It was, indeed, surreal.
Joe
Wow, how similar it is to the pilgrims making the trip to Jerusalem to die and waited for the Judgement Day to be resurrected. It turned Jerusalem into a city of charnel house.
ReplyDeleteWei