Ep 7: Varanasi

We arrive in Varanasi. One of the oldest living cities in the world, Varanasi is the spiritual center of Hinduism. The city stretches along the shores of the River Ganges (known to locals as The Ganga), whose holy waters are said to absolve sin. The elderly and infirmed from across the Hindu world travel to Varanasi; dying here gives one direct access to enlightenment and heaven. The funeral ritual described in this episode is one of the most incredible scenes we have ever witnessed. Bodies are carried through the streets by chanting families and friends to the Ghats- cement stairs along the shore of the Ganges- where they are cremated in open wood fires that have supposedly been burning since the beginning of time. Women, to this day, are not allowed to attend the funerals because the widows used to fling themselves on the fires to ascend to heaven with their husbands.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• travel
• india
• videoblog
• vlog
• vlogabond
• vagabond
• varanasi

[aiyannamomma]

The information following this clip is misleading. Many women had no choice but to burn with thier husbands, and some were physicall forced.

[ultrahiplibrarian]

Where are episodes 1-6? Would love to see more of this journey

[deniskorolev]

Good work, thank you! I have visited Varanasi and made also some kind of clip, but only a musical and song is Russian, yours is informative and looks professional NLE, rather good shots. I remember there was not allowed to make shots near the fires on ghats...

[RiceDreaming]

I am a Hindu painter living in the USA. My paintings are here: watch?v=2C411rrgB74

[raisahaab]

very nice vedio ......real picture...evrybody rich poor...any caste has to pass through this door...evrything will be left behind

[DistortedDingo]

yes, compared to the school shootings, pedophilia and racism from a developed country. Our excuses is were poor but growing, whats yours? Just plain evil?

[Yeppr]

The widows shave their heads and can't wear anything to make them look good. They are shunned by relatives after their husbands death to live on the streets. They need to have a widows pound to take stray widows for people from america to adopt..if unadopted in one month..then throw them in the Ganga..Bye bye

[davidenepal]

nice video man...very nice ilove india...i love varanasi...i love ganga.....

[GotlandianGuitarist]

Informative and in English. Good.