Varanasi

Varanasi. One of the oldest living cities in the world, Varanasi is the spiritual center of Hinduism. The city stretches along the shores of the River Ganges (known to locals as The Ganga), whose holy waters are said to absolve sin. The elderly and infirmed from across the Hindu world travel to Varanasi; dying here gives one direct access to enlightenment and heaven. The funeral ritual described in this episode is one of the most incredible scenes we have ever witnessed. Bodies are carried through the streets by chanting families and friends to the Ghats- cement stairs along the shore of the Ganges- where they are cremated in open wood fires that have supposedly been burning since the beginning of time. Women, to this day, are not allowed to attend the funerals because the widows used to fling themselves on the fires to ascend to heaven with their husbands.