The Flickr Ghatfilthpovertyholi Image Generatr

Life is a journey. When we stop, things don't go right.
~ Pope Francis

The title is in memory of a favourite uncle of mine who would look at me and ask "Smoking? Tea smoking?" all the time he just wanted to have a cup of tea himself. We were Sikhs and smoking was a complete no-no even. This was his way to tease my father who would get very worked up at the word. :)

Seen on the burning ghats of Varanasi . . .

Varanasi

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Maybe there is a messier place on the planet than the ghats of Varanasi . . . but I am yet to see it . . .

Attracted by the seeds/nuts etc showered by the pilgrims in the boat on the right, birds swarm to the area trying to find a spot amongst those already on the water picking up the goodies.

The saddest image of my Varanasi trip.

No it was not the woman whose feet and head were sticking out of her funeral pyre. That was terrible but at least she was not suffering. This mutt lying on the steps of the ghat was suffering like I have never ever seen any creature suffer. He was all skin and bones (as literally as you can imagine), he was trembling and shaking violently, and he was clenching and unclenching his death in obvious agony.

Of course, he was dying and had been lying there for a few days according to some people who frequent the ghats and yet no one was doing anything about it. It was probably too late to save him but atlas he need to be put to rest.

I rushed out of the ghat to ask the shop-keepers about any vets in the area. Everyone asked me why but no one showed any interest when I told them.

Why is a dog's life so worthless to a majority of Indians. It is a disgrace.

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