A Site Only Seen in Varanasi

One evening, before we left Varanasi, I was sitting in an Internet cafe and I heard the sound of shaking bells which seemed to grow louder with each passing moment. As the sound neared, it was joined by the sound of stamping feet and chanting men. When I looked towards to open door to see what was happening, a group of men tromped past, shouting and chanting loudly, carrying between them, a stretcher, upon which lay a body prepared for cremation at one of the city's burning ghats. As soon as they appreared, they were gone, the sound of the bells receeding with their passing. I smiled to myself and shook my head, amazed at the things one can experience so far away from home.

During the hour that I was in the cafe that evening, at least six more bodies were ceremoniously carried past the door on their way to Nirvana in Indian's holiest city.