Stoned Cold 1
- krolesh
- Mar 9, 2024
- 2 min read
Phil turned up in Varanasi in the middle of the night, freezing his butt off, after having walked through the maze of laneways to our guesthouse, in the thick fog and the disagreeable brass monkey weather.
He bought a huge thick blanket on the way, which proved to be one of our most treasured possessions over the next couple of weeks.
We properly caught up in the morning, and all four of us, Phil, Frankie, Ajuna and I, strolled off to explore the fascinating city of Varanasi.
Frankie and Phil having a ghat chat
Strolling along the ghats is like stepping back about a thousand years. There's little evidence that we're in whatever century we're in.
Mourning ceremony (I think)
Heading into the laneways keeps you alert, there's things coming at you from all directions, you've really got keep your eyes peeled.
And it's all so bloody interesting.
True believers watching the Ram temple inauguration in Ayodhya, live on a big screen.
Lingams keeping a tree vulva company
Ajuna being all mosquettish
Half Shiva half Shakti. Best of both worlds.
Kali letting Shiva know who's boss
Frankie with fellow professionals
Morning tea
Another burning ghat, for poorer people
This brush looks like ones that the Jains use to sweep the ground in front of them so they don't accidentally kill or injure any living being as they walk. Jainsism is an extremely ancient religion, there's about 4.5m adherents in India. I'll chat about them at some point, no doubt.
Another ghat ritual
Hairy thieves
Same to you
Oh so squeezy
Dancing in the streets
Garuda
Kali and Durga looking vicious, as usual
Frankie buying a bamboo flute. Luckily it was in tune, Ajuna and I checked it.
Ram being all serious
Street concert celebrating the temple inauguration at Ayodhya
And the band
Rama flossing his teeth while Sita chats to a human
Spice wallah
Kids eat anything
Waiting for a chai
After the ritual aarti at the main ghat. Years ago the ceremonies were small and felt more spiritual, but these days they've become a bit of a tourist spectacle.
Takeaway trash
Go to Part 2
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