Varanasi – continued | Varanasi

Varanasi – continued

I wanted to make another note on the burning ceremonies in Varanasi. When people die in India, it is a privilege for them to get cremated here in this city. The cremations happen on the banks of the river Ganges, at the burning Ghats, and everyone is free to come and witness the ceremony.

It is on our first night here that we decided to take a boat to the burning ghats, and see it for ourselves. As it is prohibited to take pictures, out of respect for the dead, I don’t have evidence of this tradition. All I can say is that before seeing it one might feel a sentiment of resentment about the whole idea of public cremation. However, approaching the fires, the scenes of cremation felt very serene and natural, and even peaceful.

Bodies are wrapped in cloth, and put on top of a few hundred kilograms of burning fire. The price of the cremation depends on the quantity and quality of wood used. Prices start at 250 Rupees per kilo (approximately 4 Euros), so the cost of being cremated here is quite steep, for the average Indian family.

The corpses burn in public for 3 hours, before being completely consumed by the fire. Some parts of the body, such as the hips for the women and the chest for the men, don’t burn completely, and are simply thrown in the river Ganges. The rest of the ashes are also thrown in the river, and it is believed that this process send one straight the heaven.

Several restrictions exist for which bodies can be cremated. Only grown men and women, and not lepers. Babies, children and lepers are not cremated, as it is believed that they are pure in their bodies. They are simply just thrown in the river, and weighted down with rocks. Apparently, some bodies surface occasionally, for the pleasure of the local birds, and dogs (!).

Although this is a lot to take in, it’s probably one of the most intense experiences I’ve had in my life, and I recommend everyone going to India to take a detour through Varanasi to check out these traditional Hindu customs.