GHATS ON GANGES IN VARANASI

There is no sight as spectacular as Ghats of Varanasi soaked of the sun, seen from a boat on the Ganga River at the dawn. Wake up before sun rise catch the painting like shadows of the devotees taking early dip in the holy water of Ganga and the boatmen. There are vast stretches of sand on the eastern bank of the Ganga, so you can see the day breaking over the horizon. Sit on a boat with the boatman’s splashing oars and watch the ghats glow. There is always a breeze, always a floating bowl of colored flowers dominated by marigold. Get off at the Dasashwamedh Ghat, make your way to Vishwanath Gali and have a piping hot breakfast of Alu-Kachori and Jalebi. An immortal experience!

The ghats……literally “flight of steps” but more like theatres of life….stretch for some 4 Kms along the river front. They are the heart of Varanasi: you can stroll down the entire stretch and not be tired. The artists sitting on the stairs making their paintings, drawings; pandas performing the rituals with the pilgrims under the typical picturesque Kashi umbrellas, children flying kites, cows being fed by the devotees who have just emerged of the river water after their holy bath, holy bells ringing from the rows of temples, prayers/ aartis being played on loud speakers, some nuts showing their skills…..its all enchanting.

·       Come and feel the spiritual fragrance of pluralistic human existence.  

·       Come live with joy forever, start the day with new hopes, aspirations and internal strength, inspired by Vedic enchanting of Richas, enthralling Ganges, Ghats and vibrant soulful Indian music in addition to introspection.  

·       Subah-e-Banaras, a phenomenon that has been ascribed to civilization to foster cosmic evaluation and its consciousness.

·        During morning hours ‘creative energy’ revealed Himself after lifting the veil of darkness.  True, no one can see ‘Thou’ with his organic eyes but every one of us can realize Him with the help of purified intellect & soul.

·       Subah-e-Banaras gives you a golden opportunity to purify your mind and soul.

The Ghats……………..

Ghats are riverfront steps leading to the banks of the River Ganga. The city has 88 ghats. Most of the ghats are for taking bath and performing pujas, religious rituals and ceremonies. Two ghats, Manikarnika and Harishchandra, are used exclusively for cremation and conducting last rites.

Most Varanasi ghats were rebuilt in the 18th century, when the city came under Maratha rule. The patrons of many ghats are Marathas, Scindias, Holkars, Bhonsles, and Peshwas. Many ghats are associated with legends or mythologies while many ghats are privately owned. Morning and evening boat rides on the Ganges across the ghats is a popular visitor attraction.

The sight of the ghats of Varanasi is definitely magical and mystic. Visiting Varanasi is considered to be a blessing for a devout devotee. It is the city that can be best described as a perfect amalgam of divinity and humanity. If ghats in Varanasi are said to be pedestal connecting physical world with spiritual one, then, the temples in Varanasi are definitely medium to link the earthly with the divine. Many famous “ashramas” are located nearby the ghats. These divine ghats have been witness to the evolution of the human beings since ages. Also, a popular Sanskrit proverb says that ‘Kashiyam Maranam Mukti’. It means that death of any living being in Kashi ensures liberation of the soul from the cycle of birth and rebirth. There is a strong belief that taking bath in River Ganga on the ghats of Varanasi city washes away all the sins.

Now I will take you to some well known Ghats as we move down the stream of Ganga from Assi Ghat towards Rajghat Bridge crossing the Dasashwamedh Ghat narrating the brief history and significance