Varanasi Ceremonies

5.30 am start in Varanasi to see the pilgrims and holy men bathing in the Ganges. We watched from a rowing boat so had a real vantage point.

Then a trip to a nearby town which is a centre for Buddhist worship.

We returned to the Ganges again in the early evening for the daily holy service and to see the cremation fires on the banks of the river. We walked through the streets,to the river bank, nearly deafened by hooting as the traffic and pedestrians fought each other to get across the roads.

The service was led by 7 young priests who sang, played drums and trumpets. ...It was beautiful but very long! The whole river bank was thronging with people. The boat once again provided us with a great view!

The whole day has been exhausting , dirty, noisy and a bit scary at times.