My agent gave away plates of breakfast to the sadhus and beggars. One entitled Brahman in my group questioned it. And then that sadhu gave his one plate to several other beghars as they share it.
A photo would demean their dignity.
A photo of my Brahman co traveller would demean mine.
A moment of deep sadness.
I spent a few moments watching bodies burn at the manikarnika ghat. Alone on the boat with the boatman, who seemed to have normalised lying lifeless on a dirty ghat.The women on my trip largely Brahman women and some lingayat women asked me why I was not travelling with my "yajman" their term for husband, and from interpretations of the language "yajman" means that, "owner". And while I responded saying " I don't have one" , I laughed within saying " now, that will be a new one, a yajman for me"!
Kashi, I am told will not let a woman do pind Daan. I shall go to gaya, where I will do it rightfully for my foremothers on their behalf. Well, I don't blame them, my more world wise mother still accuses other women of being divorced, if she could me, she would also. I can empathize that women are taught that they are helpless without the yajman
I walked past the discrepit missionary home,
Benaras feels like all those unwanted people recreating another life tucked away in broken mansions.
I enjoyed my boat ride
I enjoyed the group of Muslim boys playing cricket and the sadhus keeping score.
The Siberian gulls will fly away next week.
