Varanashi, varanashi, varanashi II

Si, Varanasi te un noseque que enganxa. Hi vaig tornar el cap de setmana passat amb un grup d'estudiants japonesos. Tot i visitar la mateixa ciutat, l'experiencia va ser molt diferent. Ni millor ni pitjor, diferent i definitivament enriquidora.

Al mati del diumenge varem anar a missa a Allahabad. La majoria dels assistens eren hindis, pero hi havia alguns (pocs) occidentals. El capella parlava en angles i al instant un altre pastor traduia al hindi. Despres ens varem encaminar cap a Varanasi i al arribar varem anar a veure Sarnath, a tres quilometres al nord de la ciutat. Sarnath es desti de peregrinacio budista perque aqui es on buddha va donar el seu primer sermo (sobre el "dharma chakra" pels curiosos). Vaig entendre la seva importancia quan vaig contemplar un grup de peregrins de Sri Lanka tots vestits de blanc pregant davant del lloc on se suposa que Buddha va donar el sermo. El punt en questio consisteix en un munt de pedres cobertes per papers d'or on la gent ha anat plantant fumejants barretes d'incens.

Resumint, cristianisme al mati i budisme a la tarda, pero aixo no es tot. Anant cap al hotel varem passar per davant d'una mesquita enorme al mig de Varanasi. De fet aquell mateix mati havia descobert la petita mesquita que hi ha dins el campus a Allahabad. Ah, i m'havia oblidat de dir que aqui en comptes de sentir les campanades de l'esglesia ocasionalment sento la crida a la pregaria des de la meva habitacio , com una especie de llunyana cantarella.

L'endema al mati varem fer un vol amb barca pel Ganges (ganga pels indis). Molt relaxant. Varem complir amb la tradicio i varem oferir l'espelma al riu tot demanant un desig. Ganga tambe ens va ensenya la seva cara menys agradable. Tot i aixo, "Ganga is the lifeline of indian culture" (Ganga es el salvavides de la cultura india). Despres d'un esmorzar de reis, o de sultans, com volgueu, varem anar a visitar un temple hindu. No podia ser menys. Imatges de Ganesha, Shiva, Vishnu i mandales al sostre pero en general no massa coloraines. Almenys al interior, l'exterior del temple es rosa. I be, es veritat que les escultures del interior eren tot menys discretes, daurades i cobertes de collarets de flors. Es podien llegir cites de les escriptures sagrades hindus, a vegades traduides.

La India es qualsevol cosa mes homogenea. Es impossible generalitzar en res, i menys en la fe. Crec que vaig llegir en alguna banda que viatjar serveix, entre altres coses, per superar els prejudicis i deixar enrera les preconcepcions. Viatjar es, com a minim, obrir la ment.

Ofrena i desig
Offering and wish
09/07, Varanasi, India

La veu de Ganga
Ganga's voice
09/07, Varanasi, India

Yes, Varanasi has something that grips you. I went there last weekend with a group of japanese students. Although I visited the same city, this second experience was very different. Not better or worse, just different, and definitely worth it.

On Sunday morning we went to church in Allahabad. Most of the people there were Indian, but I could see some westerns also. The priest talked in English and his word were translated into Hindi by a a second pastor next him. After that we went to Varanasi. When we arrived we went to Sarnath, located three kilometers north. Sarnath is a popular destination for Buddhist pilgrims because Buddha pronounced his first sermon here. I understood the importance of this place when I saw a group of pilgrims from Sri Lanka dressed in white praying in front of the place were it is said that Buddha talked. This point was mainly a group of stones covered with shiny golden papers where people had placed smoky incense sticks.

In brief, christianism in the morning and Buddhism in the afternoon. But that was not all. While going to the hotel I had the chance to see a huge mosque from the bus. Actually that same morning I discovered the small mosque in Allahabad's campus. An also, I forgot to say that here instead of the church bells I sometimes hear a voice like a distant tune announcing the praying time.

Next morning we made a boat trip in the Ganges (ganga for the Indians). Very relaxing. We followed the traditions and offered a candle to the river and made a wish. But Ganga sometimes shows his unpleasant face. Anyway, "Ganga is the lifeline of Indian culture". After a luxurious breakfast we visited a Hindu temple. It couldn't be any other way. Images of Ganesha, Shiva, Vishnu and mandalas on the ceiling but not so colorful in general. At least when it comes to the interiors, because the exterior of the temple was mostly pink. And also it must be said that the statues inside couldn't be called discrete: golden and covered with flower necklaces. Quotes from the sacred Hindu scriptures could be read all over the walls, sometimes translated.

India is not that's for sure, especially when it comes to faith. I read somewhere that traveling can make us overcome prejudices and leave preconceptions behind. Traveling is opening your mind, at least.

Dixit: "Are you with them?"