An Evening in Varanasi
As we begin to analyze our surroundings, all our senses suddenly become alive.
We see a cluster of vibrant colors dawning upon us like an infinite umbrella. The sweet smell of a very particular type of cuisine “mesmerizes” us with its richness and diversity. We draw our hand forward to “touch” and finally, mark our very own presence in this complex setting.
Suddenly, a voice is “heard” approaching from far away and although we cannot quite decipher what it means, it definitely possesses a divine taste within.
As we start to move in the direction of that voice, a cold breeze hits us on the left side of our face. Turning towards it, we’re greeted by a gigantic body of water. It’s not like any other rivers, ponds, or lakes that we’ve come across. There’s something special about this. It is as if that the river has its own soul, which right now, is offering its blessings in the form of a breeze to lift our spirits and make us feel alive.
The never-ending sides of the river seem to flow straight to the horizon. There’s a set of stairs where we stand, which goes down and almost dissolves itself in this river. It looks as if each and every ally or street of this city somewhat leads to this place, making it the ultimate destination for everyone.
Realizing that our vocabulary is limited to define such an inexplicable place, we move forward. Walking through the hustle & bustle that surrounds us, the many colorful garments that dance to that very same breeze we experienced before, and about a million bells ringing in symphony all around us, we’re reminded of an existence, which transcends all our personal matters and relates us to its own divine self.
Asking around in this bazaar that we find ourselves in, we’re finally able to decipher that divine river we saw earlier. And as we continue to hear stories about River Ganga’s majestical doings, someone puts a garland around our necks and utters “welcome to the holy city of Varanasi, India”.
The above excerpt is taken from my Podcast, “The International Connection”.
