Notes from a holy place

Varanasi

5th Oct.

4.15 am. Patna. Dark outside.

10.10 am. Varanasi. A dream is going to come true.

Night. Writing from LICI guesthouse Varanasi. Had thali for lunch today, and an afternoon sleep caused by the tiredness from last night. That night was horrible. No sleep! Sleeper class is hell.

Visited Rajendraprasad Ghat and Dashashwamedh ghat. Had Aloo ka paratha and paneer butter masala for dinner.

LIC has given us a fine room. Reminds me and making me contrast with the one Bharat Sebasram Sangha gave us at Hardwar.


6th Oct.

Visited Vishwanath temple. Offered Puja. Had Annapurna's bhog for lunch. A bit maths for me in the evening. And at dinner, lachha paratha and two items of paneer: paneer butter masala and shahi paneer.


7th Oct.

In the morning took an auto and went to see Durga temple, Sankatmochan temple, BHU, Birla temple and other places. Ramnagar and Sarnath got included. Ramnagar falls on the other side of Ganges. Came back at noon. Once again thali for lunch.

In the evening went to see the famous evening Aarti at Dashaswamedh ghat. Beautiful. Took pictures of ghats and the aarti. Varanasi is really mind-blowing and serene with all its old-age history, culture and rituals. It's making me nostalgic at times.

Had chicken and rice at dinner at a different hotel named 'Jolojog'.


8th Oct.

In the morning went to see the ghats again. Took pictures of the same.

Faces. Motions. Pictures. Far-off places. Simple faces. Descriptions. These are what makes a place what we see from the outset.

Rice and chicken for lunch at 'Jolojog'. A bit maths for me again in the evening. And then dinner in the guest-house itself.


9th Oct.

The day when it all ends. Nothing much in my mind right now. Probably I will remind of this day after a long time.

One thing I did realise, I fulfilled the cause of my visit. My love for her is full now. The circle of life makes it's last mark here.






-Signed Soumyo.