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<\/a><\/p>\nI was by myself, so I had time to watch them work and admire the patterns they were weaving.\u00a0Eventually a salesman found me and walked me into a sales area where he explained some about their products.\u00a0 The family had been in the business for 7 generations, and the work is beautiful, but it\u2019s expensive.\u00a0 I had to leave to catch our guide for our evening tour, but planned to visit again when we returned to the hotel.<\/p>\n
We were picked up at 4:30, beginning the trip to Evening Aarti.\u00a0 We had no idea what we were going to watch.\u00a0 Our driver worked his way through some crazy traffic, dodging cattle, people, bikes, motorbikes, cars, and buses, as we drove toward the Ganges River.\u00a0We had to get out and walk the last kilometer because of the huge crowds.\u00a0 We finally came in full view of the river and all the activity.\u00a0 It\u2019s impossible to describe the sounds, and scenes on the bank as everyone prepared for the evening prayers.<\/p>\n Varanasi is the place where Hindu believers want to die and be cremated.\u00a0 Our first activity at the river was to board a small boat which took us up the river to a Ghat (riverbank area) where bodies are being cremated.\u00a0Cremations are taking place 24\/7.\u00a0As the boat moves closer, our guide describes the activities taking place\u2026..washing the body before cremation, building the pyre and the burning, throwing the remaining bones into the river after the cremation, and so many other significant traditions for the mourning families.\u00a0 It\u2019s a dramatic sight as the sun sets.<\/p>\n Our next stop was to float off the bank in sight of the evening prayers, delivered by sets of priests in several different sections of the riverbank.\u00a0 This was all taking place simultaneously, and each group had amplification and big crowds were ringing bells, and taking part.\u00a0 The colors, the sounds, the smells, and the energy from the whole thing was amazing.<\/p>\n Our guide helped us leave a little before the ceremony ended to beat the crowds.\u00a0 But the crowds departing were still crazy as we walked out, dodging all the oncoming motorbikes, rickshaws, and tuk-tuks, all going every direction.\u00a0 Crazy!!!!<\/p>\n Back in the car, our driver worked his way back to the hotel.\u00a0 It took about 30 minutes.\u00a0 We went next door, to the silk-weaving factory to check out the products, eventually buying a few beautiful items.\u00a0 Back in the room, we prep for our early trip out in the morning.\u00a0 We\u2019re scheduled to be picked up at 5:30 to travel back to the Ganges to observe the Hindu pilgrims bathing in the river.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Had an easy departure from Delhi this morning.\u00a0 At the airport, security guards were checking tickets & passports at the outside doors before we could even enter the terminal building.\u00a0 Once inside we found the Jet Airways domestic check-in.\u00a0 It … Continue reading <\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n