Fujifilm X-T2, People, Poetry, Street Photography

by Patrick JenningsMar 10, 20185:34 pm

The Holy Ganga

Mother and Daughters II, Ganges River (Ganga), Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

There are waters in this world
I would not so much
As dip a toe in
I am thinking

As a mother purifies herself
In the waters of the holy Ganga
While her daughters prepare
To leap in, yet again

My thoughts on the water
Detract not at all
From the beauty
Of this moment

The Holy Ganga
The Ganges River
Varanasi
Uttar Pradesh, India

Taken during travels, 2017

For Story, the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge.

7Comment

1

Tim Harlow on Mar 10, 2018 at 6:20 pm
Reply

I like the rhythm in the photo. So is the Ganges pretty disgusting water quality, or is it just more muddy?

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- 2
  
  Patrick Jennings on Mar 11, 2018 at 5:14 pm
  Reply
  
  Hi Tim, thank you. =)
  
  It’s a fairly noxious combination of mud, industrial and agricultural pollution, raw sewage, and the decaying bodies of both animals and humans.
  
  The human bodies takes some explaining.
  
  Varanasi is the holiest Hindu city on the Ganges. So holy, in fact, that the spirit of any Hindu who dies and/or goes through the ritual burial at Varanasi is considered completely purified. That means they escape the cycle of life, death and rebirth. Sort of a direct pass to heaven, if you will.
  
  For most people, this means having their bodies ritually burned on the river banks at one of two Ghats (Hindu temples). Some of the remains are subsequently offered to Mother Ganga — the river itself.
  
  However, the bodies of children, pregnant women, holy men, and anyone who died by poison, are all considered purified at death. Their bodies do not require burning, because they were already pure at death. Their bodies are ceremonially released whole, into the river.
  
  So, no, I won’t set foot in the Ganges at Varanasi.
  
  I did wade out a ways into the river at Rishikesh, a hill town at the base of the Himalayan foothills. It’s significantly clearer and cleaner there. Though I stopped short at bathing or, as my Yogi suggested, drinking the water.
  
  There’s more or less accurate information about the burial rituals, along with some photographs, at The Pyres of Varanasi: Breaking the Cycle of Death and Rebirth.
  
  The mother in this photograph is going through a ritual bathing because the waters of Mother Ganga — the river — are considered pure. Bathing in them purifies the bather’s spirit.
  
  Not recommended for those who have had little time to build up resistance to the numerous harmful and often deadly pathogens one encounters in India.
  
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  - 3
    
    Tim Harlow on Mar 11, 2018 at 6:41 pm
    Reply
    
    Oh my! Thanks for the details. I had no idea about the burial ceremonies. Thanks again for the learning opportunity.
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
    - 4
      
      Patrick Jennings on Mar 11, 2018 at 7:07 pm
      Reply
      
      My pleasure. =)
      
      It is an odd strange beautiful world we live in, isn’t it?
      
      😉
      
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      - 5
        
        Tim Harlow on Mar 11, 2018 at 7:26 pm
        Reply
        
        Yes, it is. Thanks so much for sharing. 👍
        
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        6
        
        Patrick Jennings on Mar 11, 2018 at 7:30 pm
        Reply
        
        Thank you for sharing your thoughts, as well. <smile>
        
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        7
        
        Tim Harlow on Mar 11, 2018 at 7:31 pm
        
        You are welcome.
        
        LikeLiked by 1 person

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