burning bodies everywhere

last night we took a boat out on the ganges and we watched some amazing ceremonies...all along the ghats people were gathered and there were hundreds of boats also full of people watching from the water. every night at 6:30 people go down to the ghats and do dancing and chanting, sadhus with vases of overflowing smoke, dancers dressed in bright colors, singing, bells clanging. there is always a celebration here in varanasi!

today we went to saranath....a very important place to buddhists........here is a short description.

Inscriptions found here refer to the site as "the Monastery of the Turning of the Wheel of the Dhamma." Known as Deer Park during ancient times, this is where the Buddha gave his first discourse to his five former companions, and where all five eventually became fully liberated. The ruins of Saranath cover an extensive area. Emperor Asoka erected a series of monuments here, including the Dhamekh Stupa which stood at a height of about 150 feet, the impressive ruins of which can still be seen today. A place of modern interest is the Mulagandhakuti Vihara erected by the Mahabodhi Society. Relics discovered at Takkasila, Nagarjunakonda, and Mirapura-khasa are enshrined here. The Lion Capital, which originally surmounted an Asokan pillar and today is the symbol of the Indian nation, now occupies a place of honour in the Saranath Museum. Saranath is located about 10 km from Varanasi in the state of Uttar Pradesh.