Day One of the Varanasi trip. Even though Varanasi is only a fifty minute or so flight from Delhi, typical seasonal fog delays made the door-to-door travel time nearly ten hours. Ravina organized a lovely nighttime boat ride (Rahil's first time in a rowboat) to view some of the many ghats. We ended up at Manikarnika Ghat, the most sacred of all (it was here that Shiva created the universe, and only this spot will survive when the universe is destroyed). Those who are fortunate enough to be cremated at Manikarnika Ghat achieve instant moksha, bypassing the recurring cycle of rebirth.

For a short video of a puja at one of the ghats, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNRDaJO-pok

For a short video of Rahil wishing most of his Wheeler relatives 'hello' from the airport, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mc8lVjaU_xs