Title: November 23rd - 06:57
Medium: Super-8 film
Aspect Ratio: 4:3
Resolution: 2880 x 2160
File Type: H.264 Codec / MP4.
Comments: Our group woke up early for a sunrise boat ride to drift along the Ganges. There was a smokey orange glow in the ashey sky. You can look directly at the sun without getting blinded or burned. A faint red dot lingered over the grey and green water. People bathing with the blessings from the ancient river. Some cleaning, others pilgrammed, mostly praying. Cremations happening 24/7 along the piers. You can see the fires burning from each dock at the burning gahts. There was a peaceful silence in the air, the only noise was the water as we gently rowed down the stream. The light of the sky brightened to a hazy white and the day broke. We got off the waters and headed into the city. Visiting Hanuman temples on rickshaws. Then meeting tailors and other vendors in the narrow corridors. We learned how to sing from a master who sung with The Beatles. Raising octaves from our sacral chakra up to the throat. It was not just singing, it was calibration where the soul meet the voice. We followed the path down the alley and at the corner of the evening we found what we were looking for. A delicious bhaang lassi at the famous Baba Lassi. What makes Babas so special? A special plant protein. A half ounce ball of dark green almost a darkened amber color of hashish. Somehow he had mixed this much material to match the milk dessert drink taste. Without realizing you are getting extremely high, because it tastes so damn good. Like melted ice cream with fresh pomegranates topping the terra citta bowl of heaven. It sure takes you to heaven... until you realize you are in hell. It stated with laughing with our friends and Baba before he closed. We walked the wrong way to the Ghats and met with kids who were skateboarding. My friend John is a pro skater and saw an unconventional gap between the stairs and borrowed the kids board. He gave it a try and we were walking with a saint and a sadu as they walked us through the night ghats safely, which felt like being protected by spirits. The saint said to stop skating. John continued to skate and almost landed his trick. The boy wanted to impress his friends and took the board to try too. He instantly hurt his ankle and carried him off to a bench. They stopped skating and he was hurt. His friends cared to him and the saint lead us on. We arrived at the gates of the burning Ghats stoned out of our minds. Past midnight, peak lassi. There were people carrying bodies and placing them on the fire. They chanted, Ram Ram, Ram Ram, Ram Ram, in harmony. Honoring the dead, remembering their family, and completing the final wish to release them in the Ganges. We were surrounded by death and fire. Only a few men were still working. The police almost stopped us entering this area this late but the saints nodded to him. We were in good company. They were teaching us foreigners something valuable; Teaching us how to respect. I was freaking out, like a bad acid trip on repeat. Paranoia booming in my brain and nerves. This place felt demonic for a second. It's a different energy from the day to it is night. It felt like we were going to be stabbed, killed, burned and sacrificed. I watched the people working. For some reason I felt safety when I was standing next to the saint who led us here. A divine protection of some sort. The anxiety left my body and started feeling confident. Starting to feel unafraid. The fear of death had left and started to reveal itself deeper. It's about family and grieving those we love. Believing in something that will free them of their suffering. In this life, and the next.
