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| Photos by Jann Segal |
So much
has been written about travel to India it seemed there would be nothing
new to write about after taking the Heart of India trip with Overseas Adventure Travel in November 2014. But India is a land of experiences. A land
where the most unexpected and simple movement by a local can trigger an
unforgettable memory that will not necessarily make it into a camera lens. Its
a land where a local custom, either known worldwide, or unknown to most outside
of India, will bring a tear to of joy, gratitude, or disbelief. India will not
only awaken the senses, it will bring a lump to the throat of any traveler.
India is a land that will generate powerful emotions.
The
unexpected happened on Thanksgiving evening 2014, in Varanasi on the banks of
the Ganges River. Boats filled with tourists gather around six in the evening
to watch the funeral pyres from cremation ceremonies along different ghats on
the banks of the river. The ghats themselves are the steps that lead down to
the Ganges. They are utilized 24x7 to perform the cremations, but the
cremations are most stirring to witness at night. Newly deceased bodies from
that day lie on the river banks draped in red shrouds. They are dipped in the
holy water of the Ganges, then a procession of six men carries them one at a
time for cremation.There can be as many as 30 cremations occurring
simultaneously.
While this
somber event occurs around the clock, just down the river is an uplifting
celebration of life for several hours that is so colorful in sight, sound, and
smell it is the essence of in a trip to India. Feelings change from that of
quiet respect to jubilation, and are quickly followed by gratitude. In the case
of this author, it was unexpectedly emotional. Every traveler was given a
flower, and asked to say a prayer of thanks to the river as the boat floated it
downstream. It was, even in the quietude of the moment, an emotional prayer of
thanks to ancestors for giving life. Hindu locals and tourists from around the
world sit in silent prayer every night after witnessing this incredible
spectacle. What made this experience additionally emotional, was that it was
Thanksgiving night.
Giving
thanks for life and thinking of loved ones gone by can be emotional anytime and
anywhere. But what made this experience all the more so was doing it in India
on Thanksgiving, witnessing death followed by life, and constant reminders
everywhere of how different life is in India. It was the ultimate reward in
world travel. If considering travel to India, realize that a traveler can never
be prepared for the unexpected sound, smell, or even prayer that will take
hold. It will be a trip like no other.
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