Varanasi - the Ghats

I could have spent hours just sitting on the steps of the ghats.  The ghats are essentially the steps down to the waters of the Ghanga. They are very wide steps and life happens upon them, round them and below them! At first glance there appears to be a random diorama  of people milling about in a chaotic colorful manner. But like most things in India if you sit and watch there is a definite rhythm and a sort of logic to the comings and goings. One thing we learnt from a photography angle was to watch and pick up on the patterns in order to try and get the best pics.

Early morning at the Ghats as well as being busy, is a great time for taking pics - the light being softer. That meant early mornings - 6.00am starts. Though some of the more enthusiastic of our party were up by 5.30am to see the sun rise  - I didn't quite make this but seeing their pics wish I had.

Morning is not only prayer/pooja time but also fun time for the kids. Their sheer joie de vivre as they jumped and dove contrasted so brilliantly with the solemnity of their praying parents.

The rituals of the pooja and pray seemed to differ from person to person but our presence and non-stop clicking didn't cause any falter in their worship. Some just sat on the side reading and chanting:

 Others worshiped the Ganga herself by lifting and releasing the waters.....

 and then submerged themselves several times.......

 Others came in groups/pilgrimages and prayed row upon row

 Some rituals seemed more complex involving urns, pouring vessels and various offerings......

Talking of offerings, a huge one is your hair and on the steps of the ghats some were shaven and shorn:

And then of course it was wash time...the ladies in all their wonderful colors washing fabrics of even more brightly and richly colored fabrics.....

And as this is India, someone is always selling!!

Varanasi is, of course, always famous for the burning ghats, the pyres of burning wood on which bodies are cremated, close to the Ganga so their ashes can be sprinkled therein. Was it disturbing to be so close to death and dying. Not so...there is no drama and hysteria, just a matter of factness and a acceptance of this part of cycle of existence. For me, taking pics of this intimate moment was a little too intrusive so this is my photographic representation......

We visited the Ghats by boat and by foot, each visit a wonderful insight into these people's lives and it was such a blessing to able to sit among them.....