"City of Shiva" a Varanasi Travel Page by Peter_P

On the banks of the sacred Ganges, Varanasi is one of the holiest places in India. Hindu pelgrims come here to bath, a ritual that washes away all sins.
It's an auspicious place to die, since expering here ensures release from the cycle of rebirths and an instant passport to heaven.

The Ganges suffers from extreme levels of pollution. Controlling waste is a major problem in an over-crowded city.

Along the border you find the Ghats : steps leading down to the river. They can be used for bathing and ceremonies but also as 'burning ghats'. Places for cremation.

The individual worship differs between different castes and sects of Hinduisme. They all pay tribute to the Ganges of the 'Great Mother'. The offers are tossed into the river, and are a kind of offering to their ancestors and the gods.

Behind the ghats is a fascination warren of alleyways and narrow lanes filled with tiny shops and street vendors. Here you can see storage of wood, especially for cremations nearby the river. Strange smell sometimes, but a must-see in Varanasi.