Gnats at Varanasi on Day 18

Varanasi is a wild and crazy place.  Tomorrow we are leaving for the Ganges River at 5 a.m. to witness the action at the "gnats" along the 7 km stretch of riverside in downtown Varanasi.  I will report back to everyone who is following our adventures and let you know what happens in the morning.

Here we are about to place our good luck flower candles in the Ganges minutes before the bombing.

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What Are 'Ghats'?

These are a very special type of embankments that are actually long flights of wide stone steps leading down to the river where people can take a holy dip. But there are more to these Ghats than just bathing and cremating. Each of the eighty-four Ghats of Varanasi holds some special significance.

Viewing the Ghats from a boat on the Ganges, especially at sunrise, is an unforgettable experience! They offer a panoramic view of the various early morning activities - from ablution to workout - of a multitude of people, for whom the river is the be all and end all of life. It's also a pleasure to walk down the entire stretch of the Ghats along the Ganges. Here people consult the astrologers under their palm leaf parasols, buy offerings for rituals, sell silk apparels and brassware, or just gaze at the faraway horizon where the mighty river meets the heavens.