I Am Blessed

Varanasi a Fragment

Every morning at sunrise I descend the narrow steps that lead to the river.  I see devotees performing early morning prayer,  row boats carrying pilgrims,  kids flying kites, Sadhus applying ash, Brahmin priests performing ritual absolutionsons, chaiwallas pouring tea, laundrymen at the dobhi ghat hanging sheets to dry in the morning sun, funeral pyres in Manikarnika Ghat and the ubiquitous cow. What brings me  to this ancient city on the sacred Ganges?  Initially I thought it would be an amazing place to spend some time with my camera.  That is clearly very true.  Varanasi is rich with subject matter, but Varanasi is so much more.  

I visited Varanasi 19 years ago and was pleasantly surprised to see that little has really change in the old city.   Sadhus now wear sunglasses and carry cellular devices and it seems Buddhist monks prefer Canon over Nikon.   Devotion is paramount in this spiritual capital. Hindu,  Buddhist, Jain  Guru, Priest, Devotee, Tourist all converge on this riverbank in Uttar Predesh to bathe, pray, cremate, and give thanks.  Every morning I descend the narrow steps that lead to the river.  Every morning I give thanks.