The Holy City and so much more......

I have spent three days in Varanasi and still I could stay more.... Varansi is the Holy City. Pilgrims come here to die. They believe if they die while in Varnasi they will not be reincarnated. They have public cremations several times throughout the day. People belive the water in the ganges is sacred and healing. All your sins are washed away with this water. They drink it, bathe in it, and also wash clothes in it. Everything you can imagine is in this water including of course ashes.
Our first night here, we took a night cruise along the ganges. We gave our wishes and offerings to Shiva. This is a dish filled with flowers and sweets, with a candle on top. We lit the candle and set it in the river while making a wish. Shiva is very easy to please so once you give your offering, your wish is sure to come true.
The people of Varanasi pray in the morning at the agnges and also in the evening. We are three days away from Holi. Holi is a celebration where people literally throw colored dye at eachother. It is a celebration to get rid of evil and bring forth the good. Friday is the festival where the have huge bond fires and free the evil to bring forth the good. Saturday is the celebration where everyone throws "colors" and colored dye in huge water guns at eachother.
On our way to watch the evening prayers by the Hindus my friends and I were attacked (literally) by six screaming kids with water guns and baggies filled with colors. We screamed No! They didn't seem to care as they pelted us with Indigo Blue dye. It was everywhere and it does not wash out for days!. I was the lucky one wearing all black at the time. =>
The next day I was buying colors for our tour Holi party when I was approached by a man. He is orignially from Canada and has been living in Varansi for 8 years. He asked what I was doing. I thought it was quite obvious but i explained none the less. He laughed and said yes i see your buying colors but why? He said you should be inside, locked in doors. He said its Holi even men are raped on Holi. I was shocked I explained I thought it was a religious holiday. He said yes it is, its a gods holiday which means no human rules or laws apply anything is free to happen. He explained that its very trypical to see toursists running down the street with their clothes torn off and even raped during Holi. He suggested I stay inside and not come out for 2 days. He was very kind. I wanted to ask him why he had chosen to live in Varanasi of all places but never did muster the courage.
I went back and Asked Montu our guide and he agreed Holi can be dangerous but said we were celebrating privately and it would be ok.
That night we took a over night train to KolKata.

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