Nasik is a city about 200 km north-east Mumbai. According to my host, Sachin, it is a "small" city : the population is "only" 1.5 million people. A legend from the Hindu epic Ramayana (we could compare it to some part of the bible) is set in this city. Rama made cut a demon's sister's nose (nasika in sanskrit) because she tried to seduce him while he was on exile...
Nowadays, it's the capital of Indian wine. And also a popular religious place. The Godvari river, which flows through the city, is the second holiest river in India, after the Ganges river.
On the train to Nasik
Sunset
The Godvari river takes birth around this montain.
Portal of a temple on the road to Trimbakeshwar
People bathing in the holy water of Godvari river, in Trimbakeshwar. Trimbakeshwar is one of the 12 holy places dedicated to Shankara in India. Every 12 years, there is a huge gathering of saddhus (saints). Some of them live completely naked : they don't own anything in this world. There is a temple reserved for Hindus, but I have been allowed in because I was with Sachin's father.
Landscape around Trimbakeshwar
Dinner with Sachin's family. On my left, Sachin's father. He showed me several religious places nearby Nasik.
Eating
A temple in Nasik
The ghat in Nasik. Hindus come in Nasik to worship for their family's dead. Sometimes, there are gatherings here, and the whole place gets totally crowdy.
On the ghats
The ghats
Third-eyed
This is the gentle god Ganesh. Sculpted in quartz.
This is the symbol of god Shankara. Actually, it represents a penis in a vagina. You find such sculptures in all temples dedicated to this god. This one is made of quartz also.
This is not you think it is... it's only a stone
1 comment:
Nasik est une ville situee a 200km au nord-est de Mumbai. Selon Sachin, mon hote, c'est une 'petite' ville, peuplee de 'seulement' 1.5 millions de personnes ! Une legende de l'epopee hindoue Ramayana (on pourrait la comparer a une partie de la bible) se passe dans cette ville. Rama fit couper le nez (nasika en sanscrit) de la soeur d'un demon parce qu'elle essayait de le seduire pendant qu'il etait en exil.
De nos jours, c'est la capitale du vin indien. Et aussi un endroit religieux. La Godvari, qui traverse la ville, est la seconde riviere sainte en Inde, apres le Ganges.
Trimbakeshwar est l'un des 12 lieux saints dedies a Shankara (Shiva) en Inde. Tous les 12 ans, il y a une enorme rencontre de saddhus (saints). Certains viennent completement nus : ils ne possedent rien en ce monde. Il y a un temple reserve aux hindous, mais j'ai pu y rentrer parce que j'etais accompagne du pere de Sachin.
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