Gokarna....for whom the bell tolls

After saying goodbye to the golden white sands of southern Goa, we venture across the state border where a few people are apprehended for the illegal importation of contraband...namely booze. It's the local potent variety which is called 'feni' and comes in coconut or cashew form, the latter being even stronger. It seems like Goa is the most liberalised state in India so the police are well used to routinely searching the buses but it still adds quite a stir to the day's proceedings

The unbearable heat is made a little easier by travelling in the state buses along the coast with an onshore breeze and when we get to the pilgrim town of Gokarna, we are relieved

Cows wonder aimlessly through town while local women stone them to keep them from their market produce. Processions of the dead are carried through the streets in a open bamboo type stretcher wrapped in white loincloths and wearing garlands of freshly picked flowers and lotus leaves.Chanting and the striking of bells proceed the corpse so that others may pay homage. Pilgrims gather more to cremate their dead loved ones here in the many temples and return for the first year after the cremation to celebrate their life. The spirituality is omnipresent in this venerable little town.