Life in Varanasi is centered around the Ganges River. It is understood to be a temple for Hindu followers. You can feel the energy of the Ganges whenever you are near it or on it. Hindus come here in their elder age so they can be cremated and their ashes placed in the river. I was lucky enough to see the burial of a 14 year old girl, who, as a child, does not get cremated but instead goes through a process of covering her body in a cloth tied by colorful cloth bands and weights placed around her. They take her into the middle of the river and drop her. No pictures are allowed to be taken of individuals being cremated or "buried".