Ganges River | GRRRL TRAVELER

Video: On the Ganges (Varanasi, India)

Filed under Photo Essays, Religious by Christine Ka'aloa on July 5, 2009 at 10:23 am {no comments}

Each year, there are thousands of pilgrimages to the holy city of Varanasi. At sunrise taking a boat tour along the river is a great way to see the ghats…a dip in the Ganges River is considered to be both, holy and purifying. In the evening, Varanasi holds a glorious puja ceremony- the Ganga aarti.

Video: Varanasi’s Ganga Aarti

Filed under Photo Essays, Religious by Christine Ka'aloa on July 5, 2009 at 10:22 am {no comments}

“The Ganga Aarti” (Varanasi, India)
Read blog article: Varanasi’s Stains

Grrrl Traveler’s Postcard Diaries presents “The Ganga Aarti” (Varanasi, India). The evening Ganga Aarti is an hour long ritual performed daily at the bank of the main ghat.

Video: “Sunrise on the Ganges”, Varanasi

Filed under Photo Essays, Religious by Christine Ka'aloa on June 10, 2009 at 5:03 pm {no comments}

GrrrlTraveler’s Postcard Diaries: Sunrise on the Ganges, Varanasi, India
(2min video)

…My boat cruise down the ganges at 6A felt beautifully special …and not, with reason that at least a 100 of other tourist boats were out on the waters racing to make the length of the Ganges before sunrise! By boat is the only way to see the overall bathing ghat life, morning sun salutations, chanting, meditations, yoga postures and people washing their clothes on Ganges. Man, woman and child are there- a dip in the Ganga water is considered holy and purifying, so many lather up and take a baths in it too! Most are so devout and absorbed in their water ritual, they can be nonchalant about the 100+ tourists boats observing and photographing their every move.
[Excerpt from "Varanasi's Humorous Underbelly"-- Click here for actual blog...]

Ghat Life in Varanasi

Filed under Religious, SOLO TRAVEL by Christine Ka'aloa on October 7, 2008 at 11:57 am {no comments}

Tues, Oct 7, 2008: Varanasi

Today is my Rest day

It is my last day in Varanasi. NO “have to’s – should see’s or do’s”…

I WILL NOT REGRET

… NO pushing myself to activity.

I will let the Spirit of Varanasi guide me to where she wants and I humbly obey. Hopefully, she’s a bit more seductive and a little less buffeting this time.

First, the Spirit tells me to laze in the clean sheets of my ahhhhh AC palace. I enjoy time off from the heat, the stink, the cows and the scams. I hang out to the cafe patio, have some Thali and spend time on the internet booking my hotel in Delhi. Finally, I “prepare” myself to go out & explore my satanic temptress– get lost in her winding streets, search her (more…)

Varanasi Rawest Stains

Filed under Religious, SOLO TRAVEL by Christine Ka'aloa on October 6, 2008 at 11:47 am {no comments}

**When you first arrive, the streets and alleyways near the Ganges can feel like a shit hole… one giant toilet!**

But what it really takes, is time to acclimate to all that’s going on in the surrounding environment.

Navigating from my guesthouse and making my way through the maze of homes, shops, vendors, temples,.. I must have eyes all around me. The streets here are stained with beggars, cows in the middle of the street blocking your path, stray dogs sunbathing where they choose, huge cow patties and smears, the smell of piss from outdoor communal urinals, shop owners accosting you at every corner to “Buy! Buy! Buy!“, rickshaw drivers swarming you one after another every 10 feet and fake guides wanting to give you directions. Of course, there’s the biggest, most unfortunate stain of all… the poor. Life (more…)