Varanasi
Varanasi is one of the religious hotspots in the north of India because of the holy Ganges river. During my visit there has been a big celebration for one of there gods, so many Hindus from all over the country were coming to Varanasi to visit the temples, take a bath in Ganges and take part in the parades. But beside all the colours of their clothes, the flowers for praying rituals and all people being happy to visit this important Hindu place, Varanasi has a totally different face. It's a crowded, dirty, chaotic city, where poor people have to live between hills of rubbish, in the smoke of the dead, getting burned corps, just waiting for their own death.
It's a very fascinating city - but not always in a positive way!
A daily scene on the Ganges Ghats: Hindus are shaving their hair before having a cleaning bath in the holy river.
Sadhus, always stoned and naked "holy men", living next to the river, with their typical coloured white skin.
Because of the holiness of the river, every Hindu wants to be burned at the Ganges. Many poor people are coming to Varanasi when getting old, living in houses like ruins behind the Ghats for years, just waiting for their own death. This kind of spending their last years of living is the only way for them to get the funeral they expected, because bringing their dead bodies to Varanasi would be too expensive.
Right behind the burning places there are some shops selling wood for the burning rituals. So the burning is quite an organised business.
Every evening there is a big demonstration on the biggest Ghat with special prayer rituals - a very moving happening for the Hindus.
Religious rituals next to the river.
Following some impressions of Hindus taking a bath in the holy river.
Delhi & Jaipur
Castle of Jaipur
Sadly an often seen image in India: a river without water, but full of rubbish. No working litter service and no consciousness for keeping their environment clean are making most of the streets a collection of plastic bags, animals, both living and dead ones, and all different types of disgusting smellings.
Tundla
A nice story makes this picture a very special one for me: Walking through this poor city near Agra, i saw these two boys "playing" their self-made "drums" out of a piece of polystyrene and a stick. I loved their laughing faces while playing their simple instruments, but I didn't have the courage to take a photo of them. After passing and strongly regretting not having taken a photo, suddenly the boys were standing behind me, asking for one!
...Lucky me!
Fashion shopping in India.
Salesman during a short stop at the station.
