The beginning of festival season in Banaras

The past nine nights, starting from the night before last night, was a holiday called Nau Ratri, “Nine Nights.” Nine nights for nine goddesses, the main one being Durga. I think the nine goddesses are manifestations of Durga. People generally keep fasts on the first and last days of Nau Ratri. People also do not eat garlic or onions. All over the city huge temporary temples made of bamboo scaffolds with colored cloth stretched over them were set up. A red carpet leads inside to an array of plastic sparkling deities, including Durga, Ganesha, Shiva, and others. There were lots of Indian tourists in Banaras for Nau Ratri and Durga Pooja. Everybody was taking pictures with the deities. The tenth day after the nine nights is called Durga Pooja, “Prayer to Durga.” This is a night of celebration. At night everywhere during Nau Ratri and Durga Pooja were flashing Christmas lights which hung all over buildings. Music blasted everywhere. People sold all kinds of toys, ceramics, flower garlands, candles. It was like a big gaudy disco religious Indian Disneyland. A priest performing pooja during Durga Pooja on the banks of the Ganges during the evening. I think the groups of Indians who were there were tourists.


A mild sampling of the epilepsy-inducing blinking lights.
A small religious supplies shop selling coconuts and flower garlands for offerings, pictures of deities, red and gold cloths for deities, and various other things.
Durga and various other gods in one of the temporary temples. This is on our way to school!
The temporary temple at night. Loud music is always blasting!
A parade during Ram Mela, the Festival of Ram. Someone decided it would be a good idea to dress little kids up as gods and parade them through the streets at night. I'm not sure which god/mythical figure this kid is supposed to be.
During the same parade. This is Kali, a ferocious aspect of Durga. She has a necklace of human heads around her neck and is impaling a baby on her lance!