Pushkar

Pushkar, one of the holiest sites in India and a haven for me, as this city is quite small by Indian standards and lies surrounded by green mountains in nature.
According to legend, Pushkar was born when the creator god Brahma dropped a lotus flower (pushpa) that he held in his hands (kar). At the three spots where the lotus petals fell to the ground, water sprang up in the middle of the desert, forming three small lakes. This lake water is said to cleanse the soul of all impurities during the full moon phase in October/November. This tradition makes this place so important for many Indians. Surrounding the lake are over 500 temples and countless bathing ghats.

The bathing ghats are steps leading to the water where people immerse themselves several times or pour water over themselves to cleanse. As the ghats are sacred, shoes, socks, and photography are prohibited.
I descend the first steps of the ghats, remove my footwear, and dive into a sea of people and animals. The ghats are lined with many women in their colorful garments and men in white. In between, cows sway gracefully, dogs make their way through the many legs, and monkeys jump from wall to wall and roof to roof. Not to forget the sadhus and other holy men, who wrap their often emaciated bodies in orange robes. I walk around, probably with my mouth agape, taking everything in. It requires a certain attention, as the ground is covered with animal droppings. It is very exciting and creates a special atmosphere.

On one of the days, we go together to 'Aloo Baba,' who has been living in a small temple in the woods near Pushkar for decades. Aloo means potato, and Baba is a term for father. He is called that because he has been living solely on potatoes since his retreat. The idea is roughly about controlling the senses and being able to concentrate without distraction. It takes years and is a mentally painful process. Well, you can visit Baba and converse with him. We spent a good hour with him. It was interesting; no one knew what to really expect. He spoke a lot about the disintegration of communities, human behavior, and the loss of morality and decency.

On another day, we visit a marble mine. It feels surreal, as if standing in the ice at 33 degrees under the setting sun.

I realize here what a challenge the three major cities we visited have already been for me. I start to relax by the second day and take it slow. A beautiful experience is seeing how people from all parts of the world come together in this small place. In the following days, I spend a lot of time with these people; we take small trips, go out for dinner together, and sit together deep into the night. I enjoy it.