The main burning ghat is the manikatika ghat and was there for a while with all the burning in place.
The burning was really intense chocking up my throw and displayed in full view of the public.
Apparantly the burning ghats are managed by doms or the untouchables and the people who comes are relantless.
As much as 20 bodies or more can be burned at the manikartika ghat and the smoke is really strong. Different wood is used and the most expensive wood is the sandal wood.
The fire have to be taken from the eternal fire of siva which have to be taken to light up the fire.
Different burning pits are for different caste and profession. The top upper levels are for politicians and soldiers. While children pregnant ladies and holy man do not get burned as they are pure and they are tied to a stone and the river ganga flows it away. A really interesting and poigant process i must say.
Even at my hotel i can smell the burning which is very close to the burning ghats.
Coupled with a hot day and also lots of people around with a hospice by the back of the temple where people are waiting to die with or without their family. It is truely a process where we truely see the cycle of life.
Now i get an irritated eye and a stuffed nose from all the smoke.
Rightly called the city of shiva indeed
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