Flowing by the 5000 year 'young' civilization of Benares, India, the river Ganges adds a strange charm to the city. Revered as the holiest river in Hindu culture, a boat ride down the river at dusk is an experience that demonstrates the circle of life - Hope, penance, reverence and death - to start a new afterlife... one can see it all.
Darkness and quiet lapping sounds of water surround one while the brightly decorated buildings and river approach stairs (known as 'ghat') provide a contrast that reminds of the belief of people of Varanasi that everything is a celebration!
The trip starts as you approach the river and taken in the vista of the the boats, gently bobbing up and down on the river in rapidly receding dusk light.
A moon ascends soon and casts its mellow glow as people prepare for the 'Ganga Aarati' (Prayer to River Ganges)
On two prominent ghats, thousands of people throng together (on the ghat and in a multitudes of boats on the river) as 7 high priests offer prayers to River ganges
The ceremony starts with blowing of the Conch
Then various rituals are performed including burning scented incense
Followed by the main prayer accompanied by swinging of huge oil lamps....
The devotion and reverence of the priests for the holy river shows clearly ..
People in boats offer their own prayers by lighting lamps and letting them float on the river...
As this celebration of life brought by the river Ganges goes on, there are funeral pyres burning away on another ghat....
The circle of life and death goes on and on ...