Varanasi, considered a holy ancient city for Hindus and Jains. The city was built along the Ganges River (pronounced Ganga), which plays a vital role for the residents. This river stretches for some 3 km along the west banks of holy river. People bathe in the river, wash clothes in the river, bathe their animals in the river, and also cremate bodies here, too.
There are several ghats along the river (like piers to a beach) where religious ceremonies are practiced nightly and there are also the cremation (“burning”) ghats where thousands of bodies a year are burned. Some people are opposed of watching but there are many Hindu families and observers around. Private life is so public and death is seen as just another part of life; after all, this is just one life passing and another one is reborn.
2008 copyright, Jennifer Campos, all rights reserved
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