I have chosen a very auspicious time to be in Varanasi because lots of holy men have now arrived in force, in the footsteps of  a very important Baba who has recently come here apparently. Basically as the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad winds down, they are all coming here – the reason being that Varanasi is considered the most sacred site on the Ganges as it is the point where the river turns back on itself towards its source, the Himalayas.

I hadn’t been able to make it to Allahabad so it is an unexpected treat for me to have so much activity here all of a sudden. In the past few days various people in interesting attire (if any at all) have been setting up temporary shelters along some of the ghats and inviting folks to just hang out with them – talking or getting high!

No doubt I’ll post some more photos over the next few days to give you a flavour of it. But I particularly liked the twinkle in this gentleman’s eye who stopped to let me photograph him while he was carrying wood for his fire, so I thought I’d start with him. I’m told they’ll be here for a least a couple more weeks so I’m going to take advantage of the opportunity to take lots of pictures – after all the last time they were here was five years ago so who knows when I’ll get another opportunity!