Our two-and-a-half-week stay in India aimed to help the local orphans. However, we also had the opportunity to experience the country and its other facets up close. One of the highlights of our stay for me was the Annual Function of Kutumb, where the children showed us, with much joy, their many talents. They sang, played various instruments, danced classical Indian dances and hip-hop, and gave speeches. A week earlier we had bought saris in town with the help of some girls from Kutumb Village. It allowed us to delve deeper into Indian culture and spend a little more time with the children. The Annual Function of Kutumb was the perfect occasion for us to wear the new saris.

We gained further insights into Indian culture and various religions by visiting several temples, among other things. In all temples, you take off your shoes before entering. Although it was a bit unusual, I actually found it very nice, as it keeps the temples much cleaner and makes the atmosphere seem more respectful and peaceful. Another highlight of the trip was a sunrise boat tour on the Ganges. We had to get up very early, but were rewarded with a beautiful sunrise and an equally beautiful view of the city. From the boat, we went ashore and walked to the Alamgir Mosque, the oldest mosque in Varanasi. From the mosque and the boat, we had breathtaking views of the city. We also learned a lot during the boat trip, including about the various ghats. In India, a ghat is an embankment or step leading down to a body of water, which has various functions. For example, we learned about cremation ghats — the ashes of the dead are immediately returned to the river after cremation. We also learned that houses are only built on the west side of the river because the sun rises in the east, and it is important for the morning ceremonies by the river that the sun rises over the river. After this impressive start to the day, we went to work in Kutumb Village, as we did on almost every other day of our stay. I will never forget these great experiences and hope that I can return to Varanasi, and of course to Kutumb, as soon as possible.