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Beginning in Banaras

Written by Indira Mohabeer (American University) Student Correspondent for UW in India: Varanasi, Fall 2019

This is so crazy… how in the world has four months of my life gone by so quickly!? I have had my fair share of experiences, good and bad, but I can’t believe how much Varanasi- how much India has fundamentally changed my life. Here are my final thoughts…
First of all, I have to give a shout out to Aum Cafe! Aum is a little cafe, located near Assi Ghat. I swear these are HANDS DOWN the best pancakes in Varanasi. Just had to mention that before anything…ok, moving on!
Here is a picture of my face, when I just realized that I checked something off of my bucket list… and that is the fact that I got to attend (or crash) an Indian wedding! Just an FYI, November and December is “wedding season” in Varanasi; this was one of about 30 weddings, in a span of about 1-2 months!
I have experienced a lot of ‘firsts’ during my four months living in Varanasi, one of them being my first-ever tattoo!!! If I look like I am in pain, it is because I was… well kind of… don’t tell my mom!
Ok..no need to pull my leg, here is the tattoo! Can you guess what that symbol signifies?
This in fact a photo of my leg, however it is an important photo! Here I am fitting my traditional bells, for my first Bharatanatyam performance! [Bharatanatyam is an ancient Indian classical dance form originating from Tamil Nadu, in South India]
Look mom, I met the Inspector General of Police in Varanasi, officer Meena! My directed field project was centered around the state of policing here in Varanasi. “I knew a guy who knew a guy”- meaning that my professor set-up the meeting. Nonetheless, I met with him and he was absolutely amazing!
This photo right here shows a big part of Varanasi that I will surely miss, get to meet and connect with people on a rawly human level. This sweet little girl is Neisha, from the Jeevan School in Varanasi. Trust me she AND the puppy are about three times smaller in real life!
I am also going to miss doing random face masks, while simultaneously doing homework… fun times indeed. (That beautiful lady’s name is Aradhanna)
Ah! We finally reach the end- I am quite surprised you made it this far, congratulations! There are so many words that I can say to sum up my experience living in Varanasi, however I think that Dr. Diana L. Eck put it best when she said that: “The city illumines truth and reveals reality. It does not bring new wonders into the scope of vision but enables one to see what is already there. Where this eternal light intersects the earth…”.

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