Drifting down the Ganges ~ unique way of Indian life

Last up for the day was getting on board the bicycle rickshaw 150 rupee / NZ$3.20 / US$2.30 to get us back to the river for our third river trip. Joe who was better joined us as last night he was poorly and stayed back.

Lassi

Varanassi is famous for its lassi. We got off Manikarnika Ghat for a 45 mins break. Passing the piles of timber ready for cremation, in single file because of the winding labyrinth of narrow alleys passing open shops, being passed by bodies as they were being carried down towards Manikarnika Ghat for cremation got to Blue Lassi.

Foreigners / tourists came and went as we were sitting on our tiny stools up inside a small room overlooking the alleyway surrounded by photos and messages left by travellers from throughout the world while we waited for our lassi to be made. Three generations of lassi wallah have sat on the same spot making I wonder how many million lassis have they made.

For me I enjoyed my banana lassi 160 rupee / NZ$3.35 / US$2.50 served in a traditional clay pot. Too much choice but that is not a criticism.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Blue-Lassi-Shop/116732481739729

Here are some more images from Dr “Google”:

https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=blue+lassi+shop+varanasi&rlz=1C1GGRV_enNZ751NZ751&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwicmozJ2oTaAhUBVLwKHdYoAl8Q_AUICigB&biw=1398&bih=664

Was rowed back towards the Dasaswamedh Ghat where the evening Aarti had already started. Again we lit our individual candles and placed them in the Ganges each offering our own prayers as they drifted downstream.

Two and a half hours later at 7.30pm / 19:30 we finished this part of the trip back just below the Harishchandra Ghat.

Each of the 3 trips down the Ganges was different however I suppose that the first one was the most impressionable being the first time being confronted with everyday life and death besides each other very much out in the open compared to what I am used to. The next two trips after that merely added another layer to the experience of a very unique way of Indian life.

Dinner at El Parador and being a Nepali restaurant how could I not have their Traditional Nepali Meal: rice, dal, veg curry, sauted spinach, battered veg, cornmeal chapatti and yoghurt 400 quickly came to 550 rupee / NZ$11.60 / US$8.50.