Varanasi , die Stadt des Gottes
Shiva , scheint die Stadt der Extreme, Leben und Tod sind hier so dicht beieinander, wie kaum anderswo in Indien. Um den ewigen Kreislauf der Wiedergeburten zu durchbrechen und sich von den Reinkarnationen zu erlösen, werden die sterblichen Überreste der Hindus (in Form von Asche, wer sich die ca. 50 € leisten kann, sonst auch im Stück) in Varanasi dem heiligen Ganges übergeben. So finden die Totenverbrennungen in aller Öffentlichkeit statt und wir wurden Zeuge dieser Rituale, bei dem die Leiche zuerst von den Angehörigen zum Verbrennungsplatz getragen und dann beim Verbrennen erstaunlich emotionsarm betrachtet wird.
Upstream and downstream of Hindus wash their sins in order to improve their karma and hopefully eventually get to in a future life to enlightenment. The extremely high concentration of coliform bacteria, which would probably guarantee every clueless Westerners a several-day break, prevents the devout Hindu no intention to brush the teeth with this water to wash the laundry and not least the complete own body. Conducive to the search for enlightenment, it is also, illustrations and sculptures to hand over the revered deities of the river - whether still unpacked in packaging, plastic bag or. Therefore, every day a lot of large and small bags in the Ganges thrown, as well as individual sculptures, pictures, flower garlands and sacrificed food. In the evening, hundreds of small floating bowls, filled with flower petals and handed a lighted candle to the reaches of the Ganges and it forms a very quiet, charming atmosphere.
This sacred for the Hindus of the Indian cities also attracts a lot of interesting characters. They live in ascetic meditation, beg, or their arts of divination, healing, and offer much more. Many of them are certainly charlatans, but most seem entirely convinced of their actions. We have spent some very nice and interesting day ...
