VARANASI - The Religious Capital of India

VARANASI The Religious Capital of India
Mark Twain once said, Varanasi is "older than history, older than tradition, older than legend,
looks twice as old as all of them put together."
Varanasi, the holy city of India, is also known by the name of Kashi and Benaras, is a city situated
on the banks of the River Ganga (Ganges) in Uttar Pradesh, India. Kashi, the city of Moksha for
Hindus since centuries .It is regarded as a holy city by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. It is one of the
oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and probably the oldest in India. The culture of
Varanasi is closely associated with the River Ganga and the river's religious importance. The city
has been a cultural and religious centre in North India for several thousand years.
A Hindu religious ascetic (Sadhu) starting his day by worshipping the sun God at Varanasi Ghat.
Varanasi, the holy city of India, is also known by the name of Kashi and Benaras. Kashi, the city
of Moksha for Hindus since centuries. Varanasi is the most popular pilgrimage point for the
Hindus. One of the seven holiest cities, Varanasi city is also one the Shakti Peethas and one of
the twelve Jyotir Linga sites in India. In Hinduism it is believed that those who die and are
cremated here get an instant gateway to liberation from the cycle of births and re-births.
A Hindu religious ascetic (Sadhu) starting his day through Yoga on the bank of Ganga River at Varanasi
Ghat.
VaranasiThe Oldest City of Indian Spirituality. Mark Twain once said, Varanasi is "older
than history, older than tradition, older than legend, looks twice as old as all of them put together."
VARANASI...... Candid Moments
Varanasi also commonly known as Banaras is a city situated on the banks of the River Ganga
in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is regarded as a holy city by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. It is one of
the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and probably the oldest in India. The culture
of Varanasi is closely associated with the River Ganges and the river's religious importance.
VARANASI...... Colours of INDIA
Every morning hundreds of devotees throng the Dasaswamedh and other adjoining 'ghats' in the city
to take a holy dip in the Ganga. Devotees then perform various rituals at the ghats and special puja
at temples like Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Sankat Mochan Temple.
VARANASI...... Candid Moments.
VARANASI: Where India Meets....
VaranasiThe Religious City of India.
VaranasiThe Soul of India.
Many people shave their heads and after a holy dip, perform the last rites of their departed relatives at
the river bank.
GANGA: The River of Life.
VARANASI..Rana Mahal Ghat.
Attached to the northern part of the Causatthi Ghat, the palace at the ghat was built in ca 1670
by the king Rana Jagatsingh of Udaipur (Rajasthan), thus it is called as Rana Mahal ghat.
During his pilgrimage to Kashi the king has taken shelter in this palace. The palace is a distinct
example of Rajasthani style of architecture. There are three porches facing the Ganga river, and
the windows with stone networking are the additional example of craftsmanship. From the river
bank towards the upper part at every five steps there is a platform. In the upper portion of steps
in north and south there are niches containing Shiva lingas. In its vicinity at the upper part there
is a shrine of Vakratunda Vinayaka
Varanasi.The Place of Peace.
When the vision travels far ahead of time.....
VaranasiThe Rituals.
Every morning hundreds of devotees throng the Dasaswamedh and other adjoining 'ghats' in the city
to take a holy dip in the Ganga. Devotees then perform various rituals at the ghats and special puja at
temples like Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Sankat Mochan Temple.
The Bath : Cleanse Your Soul
Devotee worshiping the Sun God after a holy dip at Varanasi Ghat.
VaranasiThe Soul of India
VaranasiPain, Bliss and Sanctification.
Every day hundreds of devout Hindus converge on the banks of River Ganges in Varanasi, take holy dip,
pray for the salvation of their ancestors and also pay homage to their ancestors.
Varanasi.The Place of Peace & Reconcilation.
Religion is nothing but.......sheer Magic.
Ganga, The River of Life.
VARANASI........ The Place of Peace & Tranquility.
An Evening at Varanasi Ghat.

Eyes.The Gateway to your Soul
A holy man (sadhu), a Hindu religious ascetic on his spiritual journey!

Varanasi..The Face of India.
Varanasi..The Face of India.
VARANASI........ Evening Prayer.
Preparation for Evening Prayer. Peoples are preparing the aarti plates for their evening prayers on
the banks of the River Ganges in Varanasi.
Flower - oil lamp seller at the ghat........

Devotees and tourists watch evening prayers on the banks of the River Ganges in Varanasi.
Varanasi.An Evening.
Devotees and tourists watch evening prayers on the banks of the River Ganges in Varanasi.
Every evening thousands of visitors assemble at Dashashwamedh Ghat, to view the spectacle of
evening Aarti in Varanasi. Though this tradition itself may be thousands of years old, in the modern
days the Aarti is a choreographed show with priests in traditional Indian clothes using huge deepams
and mashals or Cressets, moving to the tune of melodious Aarti and Bhajans.
Every evening thousands of visitors assemble at Dashashwamedh Ghat, to view the spectacle of
evening Aarti in Varanasi. Though this tradition itself may be thousands of years old, in the modern
days the Aarti is a choreographed show with priests in traditional Indian clothes using huge deepams
and mashals or Cressets, moving to the tune of melodious Aarti and Bhajans.
Varanasi.An Evening.
Ganga.The River of Life & Peace.

VARANASI........ The Place of Peace & Happiness.
Flying Baba..
Ganga.The River of Life & Peace.
Every Day A New Beginning !
Priest offers morning prayers on the banks of the River Ganges in Varanasi.
VARANASI..Discover & Introspect.
A foreigner tourist on his morning meditation on the bank of Ganga River at Varanasi Ghat.
Morning Rituals...... At The Ghat
The Sun God in Hinduism is an ancient and revered deity. For centuries, Indian cultures have a
tradition of Sun worship......
Morning Rituals...... At The Ghat
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VaranasiThe Soul of India
Varanasi..Candid Moments.
VaranasiThe Holy City of India.

GANGA: The River of Life.
VARANASI........ Candid Moments.
VARANASI........ Candid Moments.
One lady cleaning the aarti plates for the evening prayers on the banks of the River Ganges in
Varanasi.
A Family Holiday.
VARANASI..Dandi Ghat.
Dandi Ghat: The ghat is predominated by the Dandi ascetics carrying sticks (Dharma-dand) in
their hands. Dandi ascetics belong to Dandi sect and have a Dandi Temple adjacent to Dandi
Ghat. Though most of the ghats are architecturally similar and, superficially, culturally look-alike
but the Dandi Ghat presents a dense cultural around it in the form of tonsured and sandal
smeared saints reciting Sanskrit Mantras & shlokas. The Dandi Ghat became a famous tourist
spot of foreigners when it was referred by Sherring way back in 1968. Though the Dandi Ghat
existed since time immemorial but it was made pucca by Lalooji Agrawal. As the saints reside
on this ghat, the Dandi Ghat is quite clean and is used for bathing purposes.
VARANASI..Harish Chandra Ghat.
Harish Chandra Ghat is one of the oldest Ghats of Varanasi. Harish Chandra Ghat is name after
a mythological King Harish Chandra, who once worked at the cremation ground here for the
perseverance of truth and charity. It is believed that the Gods rewarded him for his resolve,
charity and truthfulness and restored his lost throne and his dead son to him. Harish Chandra
Ghat is one of the two cremation Ghats (the other being Manikarnika Ghat) and is some times
referred as Adi Manikarnika (the original creation ground). Hindus from distant places bring the
dead bodies of their near and dear ones to the Harish Chandra Ghat for cremation. In Hindu
mythology it is believed that if a person is cremated at the Harish Chandra Ghat, that person
gets salvation or "moksha". The Harish Chandra Ghat was somewhat modernized in late
1980's, when an electric crematorium was opened here.
One Women Devotee worshiping The Lord Shiva at Harish Chandra Ghat, Varanasi.
Many people shave their heads and after a holy dip, perform the last rites of their departed relatives at
the river bank.
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You can watch so many activities around the Varanasi Ghats. An artist is painting on his canvas on
bank of Ganges River at Varanasi Ghat.
Varanasi..The Soul of India.
A Hindu religious ascetic (Sadhu)Meditating on the bank of Ganga River at Varanasi Ghat.
VARANASI..Dashashwamedh Ghat.
Dashashwamedh ghat is one of the oldest, most spectacular and important ghat, located at the
bank of the river Gange near to the old Vishwanath Temple in the Kashi. The literal meaning of
the Dashashwamedh is the Ghat (river front) of the ten sacrificed horses (dash means 10,
ashwa means horse, medh means sacrifice).
There are two mythologies about the ghat is that the Lord Brahma was created the
Dashashwamedh ghat in order to welcome the Lord Shiva, and the second one is the Lord
Brahma was sacrificed the ten horses in a yajna here. The Dashashwamedh ghat was
reconstructed by the Bajirao Pesava I in the year 1740 AD. It was later reconstructed by the
Queen of the Indore (the princess Ahilyabai Holkar) in the year 1774.
It is great to see the real attraction of this ghat in the evening when Gange aarti is held here.
This ghat has become the religious spot for the devotees and pilgrims for years and tourists as
well. Historically, it is considered as the most favorite and main ghat among the Hindu devotees.
VARANASIColours of India.
VARANASI..Manikarnika Ghat.
Manikarnika Ghat is associated with the two legends. It is believed that the Lord Vishnu dug a
pit using his Chakra and at the same time the Lord Shiva was watching Lord Vishnu, the earring
(manikarnika) had fell into the pit created by the Lord Vishnu. According to the second legend,
the Goddess Parvati (consort of Lord Shiva, Goddess Annapurna) hid her earrings, and asked
Lord Shiva to find them.
Manikarnika Ghat is famous by the name of Mahasmasana which is one of two cremation Ghats
in the Varanasi. Another famous ghat of cremation is Harishchandra Ghat. Manikarnika Ghat is
historically associated with the Hindu God named Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. It is considered
that the one who is cremated at this ghat will attain Moksha, the salvation and get directly
intermingled into the Lord Shiva.
It is also considered that the Charanapaduka (the footprints) of the Lord Vishnu is here in a
circular marble slab, as Lord Vishnu has meditated for many years at this ghat.
VaranasiColours of India.
A view of an Architectural Structure on the bank of Ganges River at Rana Mahal Ghat, Varanasi.
VaranasiThe Rituals.
VARANASI..Kedar Ghat.
Kedar Ghat, situated in the southern part of the destination, was built by the Maharaja of
Vijayanagar. The ghat is named after Lord Shiva, who is also known as Kedarnath'. Popular
among Bengali and South Indians, the ghat has a beautiful temple, which is dedicated to Lord
Shiva, the presiding deity of the city. This temple is constructed in ancient Hindu architectural
style.
Located on the banks of river Ganges, Kedar Ghat is one of the famous pilgrimage places in the
city of Varanasi visited by numerous saints and pilgrims. Near the Kedar Ghat, there is a Parvati
Kund, which is a beautiful pond and is believed to have water with high medicinal properties.
Ganges.The River of Life & Peace.
VARANASI.The place of MOKSHA (The salvation).
A view of Manikarnika Ghat, the most famous cremation Ghat in the Varanasi.
The oldest cremation ghats where bodies are cremated waterside, allowing ashes to be washed
away by rivers. Hindu mythology teaches that this ghat is especially sacred and that persons
cremated there receive moksha - the liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth.
Varanasi.The Place of Peace & Reconcilation.
When the vision travels far ahead of time.....
A holy man (sadhu), a Hindu religious ascetic on his spiritual journey!

VARANASI.The Spiritual City of India
A Hindu religious ascetic (Sadhu) on his way of Spirituality on the bank of Ganga River at Varanasi
Ghat.

VARANASI - The Religious Capital of India

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VARANASI The Religious Capital of India

An Evening at Varanasi Ghat.

A holy man (sadhu), a Hindu religious ascetic on his spiritual journey!

Flower - oil lamp seller at the ghat........

Ganga.The River of Life & Peace.

VARANASI: Where India Meets....

Religion is nothing but.......sheer Magic.

A holy man (sadhu), a Hindu religious ascetic on his spiritual journey!

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