India in Black and White

Sometimes India works in monochrome too. These photos were all taken in Varanasi last year.

Varanasi

Some more photos from my recent trip to India...

Varanasi photos

Some more photos of Varanasi.

Signs

India is a rich source of odd signs. Here's a phonetic one advertising sight seeing in Varanasi.

Varanasi photos

Some photos from my recent trip to Varanasi in India...

Puja

There were many devotees on the banks of the Ganges offering puja, or offerings to the god's. These are the activities in each ceremony:

1. The deity is invited to the ceremony.
2. The deity is offered a seat.
3. The deity is asked if the journey has gone well.
4. The deity’s feet are symbolically washed.
5. Water is offered so the deity may wash face and teeth.
6. Water is offered for sipping.
7. The deity is offered a water-and-honey drink.
8. Water is offered for symbolic bathing.
9. Here a cloth may be wrapped around the image and ornaments affixed to it.
10. Perfumes and ointments are applied to the image.
11. Flowers are offered before the image, or garlands draped around its neck.
12. Incense is burned before the image.
13. A burning lamp is waved in front of the image.
14. Foods such as cooked rice, fruit, clarified butter, sugar, and betel leaf are offered.
15. The worshipper and family bow or prostrate themselves before the image to offer homage.
16. The deity is dismissed.

Wet, wet, wet

I arrived in Lucknow about 2 am yesterday and caught a 'tuk tuk' straight to the railway station. But of course I was told 'first class tickets are not sold between the hours of 9 pm and 6 am', no reason, just the way it is. I had a quick look at the train waiting on the platform and decided I couldn't take a six hour night time journey in 'cattle class' so I found a cheap hotel near the station and pressed on to Varanassi the next morning in the comparative comfort of a 3 tier sleeper.

I thought the monsoon was supposed to be over? I spent today wandering around the gats and back streets backstreets of Varanasi in the pouring rain. Let's hope tomorrow is a bit brighter.