Varanasi Fire Puja (Dashashwamedh Ghat) No.1
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Varanasi Fire Puja (Dashashwamedh Ghat) No.1 |
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After having adjusted to the culture shock of Kathmandu in Nepal, the old city of Varanasi was on another level entirely. Complete sensory overload, with the activity and sheer number of people on the streets. Having a guide to show us through the city to the river was a welcome blessing. Here, the nightly fire puja, a ceremonial dedication to the River Ganges, Sun, Lord Shiva, Fire and the whole universe, was being performed by the local young brahmin preists. Lots of incense smoke, loud clanging bells and chanting all add to the tone of an enchanting, time honoured tradition.
After having adjusted to the culture shock of Kathmandu in Nepal, the old city of Varanasi was on ano...
People have no problem stopping to stare in this country, but more often with a barrage of obligitory...
The bustle of life at one of the bathing Ghats in Varanasi. The ghats are where the people come to ba...
The Dasaswameda Ghat. This is the busiest and the most ancient referred ghat. According to the myth r...
Rajendra Prasad Ghat on the Ganges River, Pilgrims Bathing and in prayer as the sun sinks low on the ...
An unforgetable boat ride down the Ganges, watching the sunrise. This is a place I've wanted to visit...
Typically people in India wake up very early. By the time the sun was up, so are most of the local pe...
Prayag Ghat, Preparing for the evening Arti Ceremony when the daily puja is conducted. When the sun ...
View from a rowing boat along the Ganges River og the Man Mandir Ghat and to the right is the Dashash...
The Prayag Ghat is located on the immediate left of the Dashaswamedh Ghat, the most important section...
Asia is the biggest continent on Earth, a darling little gem floating around in space.
Hm, what is Asia? Who's in on it?
China and India are safe bets for Asian nations. Korea, Japan, Thailand, you're fine.
Europe? No. Europe would sort of be on the "Asian continent" if not for those pesky Ural mountains dividing things up in the middle, and then also the whole lineage of kings and wealth and nations and the EU and all that "give me my respect" stuff.
Russia would probably be happiest as its own continent, so for now we'll leave it in "Eurasia" and just hope the natural gas supplies keep flowing.
Pakistan and Afghanistan are dang close to Asia, but politically they show up in "Middle East" news stories an awful lot. Verdict: Eurasia.
I guess we'll actually have to consider everything from Turkey on eastward to be "Eurasian", although the moniker seems overlappitory of the territory.
The Asian economy is now officially raging like a wild furnace of lava that consumes everything in its path. Japan has had the largest individual economy in Asia for decades, but it is forecast that both India and China will outstrip Japan within twenty years.
China is the largest holder of United States debt and is positioned to become the world's next superpower, provided that Godzilla doesn't return and decide to stomp everybody back into the Shang Dynasty.
Text by Steve Smith.
