Amazing Varanasi

Varanasi is one of the worlds oldest continually inhabited cities. It is regarded as one of Hinduisms holy cities. Traveling through the city on the main city streets it's obvious why it is considered one of the most colorful, chaotic and downright craziest cities in India. But it also has a deeply spiritual side to it. Here the most intimate rituals in life and death occur. Right on the Ganges river, the Ganges is more than just a river to the Hindu Indians, it is like a goddess, it has brought life to the people, and food by bringing rich soil for agriculture to the Ganges river basin. Varanasi is the place where you like to have your children born and where family members are cremated after death.

The group took an evening boat ride along the riverfront and viewed a prayer ceremony that occurs daily on the "ghats" or steps where Varanasi city meets the river bank. Thousands were there taking part in the prayer ceremony and the mystical sounds of bells and drums could be heard from our vantage point out in the river. 

We also witnessed preparations for cremation ceremonies, where many large wood pyramid fires were burning in preparation for receiving the dead loved ones bodies. This occurs here as death always does - around the clock. 

These are magical memories of India I will not forget.

I was very lucky to be in Varanasi on the main day of one of India's biggest festivals - Diwali. Diwali is like a combination of our Christmas and the Fourth of July. Indians clean their homes, paint the outside their houses in bright colors, exchange gifts, and most of all decorate everything with lights to lead Lord Rama home from exile. Diwali is known as the Festival of Lights.