In the Shadows of Mumbai Terrorism

From the moment people arrived in Varanasi (formerly known as Benares), they went for it. Even when we received the news that Mumbai was under attack by terrorists, there wasn't one chicken in the bunch. Everything just proceeded as planned. Nobody expressed the urge to turn back or leave India. As a matter of fact, in my opinion, they lived the experience more fully.

An example of this is people demanding to go to the crematoriums where bodies are burned on the ghats of the Ganges. Usually my groups want to see these burning ghats, but from a far. This group got out of the boat and walked right up to the borders of the crematoriums and stood there for quite a long while just observing the bodies burning, not a squeamish stomach to be found in this group. While there, we even got to observe one body being wrapped in white being prepared to go onto the fires.

But of all the surprises I experienced with this group, I could not have prepared myself for the shock of Maggie diving off the boat into the Ganga followed by Ray, Brian, Krishna and Stephen! Oh I think my mouth fell down to the bottom of the boat! Stunning it was, simply stunning.

And as a side note, Stephen, being British and after all these years of Tantra, knew he had to give up his stuckness, sent his knickers (underwear) floating down the Ganga to boot!

The Ganges River, or Ganga, as it is called here in India is a pilgrimage place. Hindus come from all over the world to purify themselves from all worldly sins by dipping themselves or swimming in the water. But a group of Westerners purifying themselves in the Ganga? No way! For the years I have come to the Ganga before, nobody would ever have wanted to put their pinky toe in. So, I believe I will always carry this memory of the big-heartedness of this group! Just amazing!