Another posting of Varanasi

When we were in Varanasi I couldn't edit and post any camera pics (just cellphone pics) due to the electrical system there blowing my computer's power brick.  We've been back some time, but I thought I would put up some pics that over time I had prepped for a posting.  These pics are mostly a cross section of 'environmental' image I took (and I took a LOT of photos).  I will do another at some point focusing on the Sadhus that were hanging out in Varanasi post the nearby Kumbha Mela, and during the Maha Shivaratri.

Please click on the pic to Embiggen!

A view from our hotel roof looking south on the Ganges bank.

Looking  away from the river shore into the warren of buildings.  No straight 'streets' here!

A view from the river to the main burning ghat, with the modern gas-powered burning area behind.

A couple of the famous Varanasi doors.

Odd sight - a small  closed temple  with a mailbox!

Now for some typical scenes in India - side of the road sellers.

The odd couple, keeping each other company.

A small tailor shop - need something made or repaired?

Find the shop lady!

A dhobi couple, bringing laundry down to the shoreline to wash and dry.

Making up some fresh chai and idli at a little stall on the  river bank.

A somewhat more laid-back chai wallah.

A little food stall in one of the tight streets (the streets are more like very skinny alleyways).

A groom leading his bride  (note they're tied together) away from the main Ghat after a ceremony.

A bride from another wedding party.

An extended family from Rajasthan visiting Kashi (Varanasi is equally referred to as Varanasi, Kashi, or Benares).

A couple of school girls covered in coloured powder well before Holi, when this stuff fills the air! (which is a time I don't like being around in India - kids will wack you with balloons filled with coloured water, these days made with a lot of heavy chemical dyes - want to ruin a camera?)

The manual labourer from the background of the pic above, who asked me to take his pic.

A Sadhu looking for some loose change!

Receiving a blessing bindi on her forehead from a Sadhu.

Here are a few pics of the Sadhus filling the ghats (river-side steps) .  Quite a  few of them - I'd say the majority at this time - were naked 'Naga' sadhus, who wear the least possible amount of clothing, and cover themselves with holy ash.

Interesting encounter.  At one of the ghats there were three foreign sadhus, all with big dreads.  A local fellow came up to one and pulled a cobra out of his bag, wrapped it around one of the folks, then held it so the foreigner could hold the snake.  Being devotees of Shiva, they should have no problem with handling the snake. Check out the sadhu behind him watching!

This is from a series of pics I took on one of our frequent boat rides on the river, looking back to the ghats along the river and a bit of the activity.

We felt so lucky to come upon this puja happening in our hotel.  This image is looking down through the central air-shaft of the hotel down to the owner's living area, where they were having the puja done by a Brahmin and the family.

The owner of our hotel, goofing around a bit, as he never works in the restaurant.  Found him to be a nice guy.

Just typical of the small things you see everywhere - a tree toots with a blessing.

Unfortunate that India is so plagued by plastic - it's been a real blessing and a curse to the place (like everywhere).