Varanasi Continued

The view is incredibly beautiful along the Holy River and the colorful Ghats.Some Ghats are used to burn dead bodies in public. Varanasi offers Moksha for the people who come here to die and be cremated. Liberation from the cycle of birth and death. The leftover bones and ashes are given back to the sacred waters of the Ganges!The Ganges is used for all of life, literately! Indians drink out of it, wash themselves, use it as toilets, to wash clothes, cows are taking their bath too and standing in the water for hours, bones and ashes are thrown in their. Monkeys, dogs, coats, are among other animals who find the water cooling too. The Ganges is also used for transporting goods from one Ghat to another. fishing boats are there ealy in the morning and so are the tourists. As I walked one day I saw a crows eating off a dead cow who was laying in the water. At night when Puja, prayer of the Ganges or also called Gangarie, is celebrated one can get tiny little flower arrangements to put in the River and make offering or send prayers to loved ones. Often my walks along the River where disturbed by touts and this was very overwhelming at times. I learned fast to not give them any attention and just walk on! Lots of children always beg for money or chocolate. I am actually sorry I did not bring chocolate on the other hand it would melt away in this heat! Varanasi is indeed a town of many colors, it is magical spiritual, crazy, corrupt, chaotic and most of all inpatient! One day I also visited Sarnath a small town close to Varanasi. It is there that Buddha gave his first speech after he got enlightened! There are a few temples  are lining up along the streets where visitors are allowed to pray and bring offerings or make a donation.
Today in the evening I will board the train to go to Bodhgaya. It is a five hour train ride to Gaya and then either with bus or cab to Bodhgaya!

With lots of love 
Sonja