Varanasi

« Meeting the sunrise at Ganga. I pondered long about whether it was worth going there. I won’t say that I experienced a world transformation or a spiritual awakening, as many have written in reviews, although I did see the cremation and the purchase of local (and even two Europeans!) spaces at Ganga. However, I did draw certain life conclusions for myself. 🌅 »

« Varanasi has a strange geography—it's situated on three islands, which are considered to be three points of the Hindu trident. Here, the entire city is built on the western bank of the Ganges—on the east bank, there has never been a single structure; it is seen as "temple land," where souls of the deceased are transferred.

I crossed the Ganges by boat and stepped onto the eastern bank. Beneath me was fine white sand glistening in the sun, almost like someone had scattered diamond dust there. Even more impressively, the cold sun shone behind my back. I looked at the shrines glowing in the distance. A new day began.

What can I say? Everything here feels quite organized. Peaceful, spacious. What else does one need for the soul? 😊✨ »

« 🔥 On the shores of the great Ganges River, you’ll find giant flamingos, gracefully strutting along the coastline. They exist in a lively chain, lining up one after another all along the shore, stretching almost seven kilometers down the river. What’s special about these flamingos is the unique way they’re positioned – they stand on three legs, which are considered the three sharp edges of a Shiva’s trident.

Interestingly, the entire flock resides on the western bank of the Ganges – there's nothing like it on the eastern side; it's never been built there. It’s dubbed "the calm world," where Shiva redirects the souls of the departed. 🔥🔥🔥 »

« I have been observing the cremation ceremony for two days now. Today, we went to the Manikarnika Ghat - the main cremation ghat in Varanasi. As I mentioned before, the dead are not carried here in a coffin; instead, the bodies are placed on a wooden pyre and burned near the river. Filming this is categorically prohibited because it is said that the soul remains on Earth if you capture it. I didn’t even attempt! I think it’s essential to respect their traditions.

It is forbidden to burn the bodies of deceased infants, pregnant women, and those who have been bitten by cobras – a special caste of people – the outcasts. Previously, their bodies were thrown into the river with a stone around their neck, but that is now prohibited. The cost of a cremation here ranges from $60 to $100 (approximately 2,500 to 3,500 Indian Rupees). Wealthy families use sandalwood for the pyres, while those without sufficient funds can use electric crematoriums.

All cremations in Varanasi are ignited from the sacred fire of Lord Shiva, which has been burning for over 4,000 years. There is one family that has been maintaining this fire for generations. It's a very honorable mission!

Now, my personal feelings about being present at such an event. When I was preparing to come here, I thought I would be horrified! But once I arrived, I was enveloped in tranquility and acceptance... I don’t know if there’s some sort of magic in this place... In such moments, you only think about how the body is just a shell. The soul – that’s what’s eternal! »

« This place is worth a visit... And you will enjoy it 😄 If we’re being serious, every destination deserves at least one full day to immerse yourself, regardless of whether you’re traveling or just taking a break. To truly appreciate your surroundings, you need to explore the area, take a look around, and get familiar with the local vibe. Don’t hire a guide, even if you might feel a bit lost; they just drag you around the labyrinth and you won’t remember anything. Just stroll, listen to the sounds of the streets, and you'll definitely find something that resonates with you. »

« 👁️‍🗨️ Varanasi isn't a place for the faint-hearted. Here, you’ll confront death face to face, grapple with your fears, and toss aside your naive notions of reality.
🔥🌍
The ancient sacred Kashi (City of Light), Benaras, or Varanasi, is steeped in traditions that trace back to the original Shiva, the living essence of the contemporary Vavilon and Luxora. Millions of pilgrims flock here; to die here is considered a tremendous fortune as it's a direct passage to liberation...
🔥
Here, 24 hours a day, the cremation pyres burn, and mere meters away, the souls blaze and vanish into the fire, once human just like us.
👻
The ghats are renowned staircases, stretching for 4 km - a hallmark of this city, while the vacant opposing bank appears like a dystopian world...
On the other side, no one lives.
🌊
Only the Aghoris—yogis who have recognized the Divine through all the darkness and density of this world—have left their footprints on the now human-inhabited banks of the Ganges for many years.
👁️‍🗨️
Shiva, the lord of this realm, fully encompasses its spirit.
Returning here for the third time has become for me the culmination of a strangely internal cycle...
And it’s no wonder that all of us are being cleansed on the second day.
On January 1st, I spent my time at the ghat with temperatures soaring above 104°F, in half humility.
Thanks for being alive.
~
Slightly drenched, almost comfortably.
Today is my happiest.
I already know that this cleansing is on a deeper level.
~
And each time, I practice in this positive state the acceptance of instinct and self-healing.
🙌🏽
It’s worth it to come here once in a lifetime to see another side of the coin.
Would you like to visit this place?
And if you have already been, what feelings did this birthplace evoke in you?
🌊 »

« I want to tell you about Varanasi, but I can’t seem to find the right words to describe everything I feel in this city. It’s a sacred, magical place, and it really affects the state of mind, the consciousness of a person—many, I’m sure, have heard this before. And even if at least once in your life you are recommended to visit this place, it’s worth staying a little longer if you can... well, it's like this: if you want to believe, believe; if you don’t want to, then don’t. 😊

I can confidently say - this is the sacred India that I envisioned even before my first visit. I had been yearning for it, and finally, after some time, I surrendered to the reality that the fairy tale is not just a fairy tale, but rather, the real world is as it is: complex, harsh, and unfair, and one must learn to see the fairy tale in this. I was not expecting anything when I arrived here. "Just be, as it will be," I thought, and my first ride was in a not-so-clean, chilly taxi with a rather suspicious driver as I traveled from the station to one of the most vibrant Indian landscapes, which was littered with rubbish, poverty, and all sorts of inappropriate sights. Suddenly, crossing the river through a bridge, everything changed. It was not the exterior but the interior that shifted.

In general, come visit if you're curious—you'll see and feel it all. 💖🔮🙌✨ »

« All the places we visited in India were incredible, but Varanasi left us in awe. At one point, Mahesh stopped me and folded his arms in a namaste gesture, and that's when we saw it: a man being carried on a stretcher, his head wrapped in a white cloth and covered entirely with yellow flowers. They were taking him to the river for cremation. »