We were taken to Pashupatinath where, as non Hindus, we could not enter the Temple but could admire the outside buildings. The above photo has many more pigeons than Trafalgar Square in London and certainly a lot more cows! It is customary to feed both the birds and the cows and they seem to be quite happy enjoying all the attention.
Our walk to the ghats was accompanied by cows and reminded me of our links to nature, we must share this planet with other creatures and I think in our busy Western lives we sometimes forget this.
Also in the West we are so removed from our contact with life and death. Our funerals are sterile affairs and so often now without an open coffin. We attend one service and then life is supposed to return to normal. How can life ever be normal again after the loss of some-one so loved? Here we witnessed cremations at the river side ... not hidden away. We saw families gathered performing remembrance ceremonies months and years after their loss. I would like to embrace some aspects of this culture although I accept that our local rivers could not support our levels of demise. But we could spend more time with our families remembering the importance of our lost relatives and celebrating their life in the years ahead that we face alone.
As we left this area we were again struck by the vibrant colour that is so integral to this colourful part of the world.
Our next stop will be more uplifting ... see you there!
Any comments are much appreciated
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