Varasani - one of the oldest still living city in the world today has a very well-developed 'outsider mixed with local' culture which is a stark comparison to Agra. The skill with which the locals bring foreigners in to see their factories and eventually saleshouses was very impressive. The series of Ghats - waterfront steps - that house various different activities and draw you into the winding streets above plays a central role. I only took pictures when I was not seeing something interesting except for the punch card fabric shop.
Interesting things like a blonde on a bike who spoke sanskrit but not hindi (i did not know this was possible), and 1 of 2 burning grounds where some 400 people are burnt on massive wood piles by priests.
I did have a meeting with an NGO in Varanasi. Then they turned out to not be able to meet me because of 'renovations'?
The workers work 12 hours a day on average, depending on order deadlines. They are paid 70 Rs ($1.5o) a day.
A rich woman in France sends designs that are made into a series of punchcards to make the fabric before exporting the resulting sarees and tablerunners.
Ghat seen from the river. Kids are flying kites. The structures feels very orderly and calm and people-friendly - i don't know how they got that way.
One of the countless paths leading from Ghat into narrow winding streets only for walking - a big difference from Agra's just-big-enough for cycles and bikes, but then no room left for all the anger and frustration generated.
I got steered into an aromatherapy selling trap. In the process I got the 13 ingredients to garam masala and met 5 cows that have grown old without seeing the light of the sun.
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