インド(1988年1月)
India, January 1988

ヴァラナシー
Varanasi

地方都市の通りの喧噪。牛も歩行者も自転車も三輪車も乗用車もトラックもバスも、ありとあらゆる動くものが自己主張している通り。その中では、クラクションにも無表情に寝たままの牛が最上位。

ホテルを出ると人力車引きがワッと集まってくるのに圧倒されたが、やがて慣れて、一番先に来た人のに乗ることとした。人が人に車を引かせるなど、趣味に合わないが、そこの慣習に従って、わずかの収入の足しにしてもらうことになる。

車の入らない通りは静かで、祠等が各所に。しかし、祠や軒先で夜間、毛布にくるまって眠る人も。

多くのヒンドゥー教徒が沐浴に来るガンジス河畔の聖地。積んだ薪で焼かれた死体の灰が流される川で沐浴し、歯も磨く人々。それを見物する観光ボート。

Bustle in a city far from the national center. Streets where everything that moves is trying to find its own way, whether it be an animal, human pedestrian, bicycle, trishaw, car, truck or bus. At the top were the cattle who did not give way.

As I went out my hotel, I was surrounded by crowds of rikshaw wallahs (pullers). Gradually I got used to it and chose the person who came to me first. Having another human person to pull me on a vehicle was not at all a part of my habit. However, adjusting ourselves to the local custom, including providing small income, may be a part of the real world.

In contrast, the pedestrial streets were free from hustle with souveir vendors not so bothersome to me. There were also small Hindu shrines. However, I saw some people sleeping in blankets in such shrines or in front of shops at night.

Varanasi is a sacred place where many Hindus come to bathe in the Ganga water. They bathe and clean teeth in the river where the ash from the burnt bodies on firewoods are thrown. Tourist boats watch it.


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