The people here in Varanasi are so poor. Yet there world is so visibly rich. I am in heaven.

There is so much that goes on along the shores of Varanasi. This photo is one of stillness but a few hours from now, these same shores come to life with the nightly rituals of giving thanks for the day and putting Lord Shiva to bed. And in the morning, a similar thing happens. It’s amazing.

 

You may have noticed that I have a thing for Tibetan prayer flags. I felt a rush of joyfulness when I first caught a glimpse of the prayer flags hanging in Dharamsala. They’re everywhere. It was so cool to see them draped across the top of Bhagsu falls and here, at Norbuligka, the Dalai Lama’s summer residence.

I should have looked into the meaning of these bowls in the temple, but I didn’t. There was just so much to behold in this Indian temple, the place where we were blessed to be the audience of the 17th karmapa.