“Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together.” ~ Mark Twain
Varanasi, as quoted by Mark Twain, is the oldest and the most prominent city in India, especially for the Hindus. It is glorified by Hindu mythology and sanctified in religious scriptures making it a holy pilgrimage centre that attracts millions of devotees and pilgrims from all around the country. It is popular among foreigners as well, which visit the city to witness the fine Hindu culture in its best form.
The first ever name of Varanasi was ‘Kashi’ which is derived from the word “Kasha’ meaning brightness. Later, it was renamed as Varanasi which was created after combining the names of the two tributaries of Ganges – Varuna and Asi. Benaras in turn, is just a derivative of the original name of Varanasi among Hindus.
Varanasi is not a typical tourist destination where a guide book will resolve all your curiosity about the city. Rather the city is more explorable by roaming without a particular destination in mind. To understand the Hindu culture in depth, absorbing into this ancient city and absorbing its people, ceremony and their lifestyle is the best way to start about it.
The city is famous for its Ghats, of both life and death.
The entire length of the Ganges River in the city is outlined by the Ghats and populated by men who come to walk, congregate and worship the holy river. The ghats lead down to the river, giving easy access to its water for the people.
The Dashashwamedh Ghat is considered the Main Ghat and is the oldest and the most spectacular Ghat in the city. There are two mythologies regarding this ghat. One being that it was created by Lord Brahma in order to welcome Lord Shiva and the second is that Lord Brahma had sacrificed ten horses here in a Yajna. At the great festivals, the ghats are visited by Hindu devotees and pilgrims in large numbers to perform a variety of rituals and religious activities.
Also, every night, a pooja ceremony is conducted at the Main Ghat where Brahmins worship to Lord Shiva and the River Ganga. The pooja begins at 6 pm and attracts a large crowd of Hindus and tourists. During the pooja one can hop onto a boat to observe the ceremony from the water. The ceremony includes lots of burning incense, fire, motions, bells ringing, and loud music in the background. The ambiance during the pooja is electrifying and a person feels deeply enlightened and spiritually lit.
While Varanasi is famously visited by the devotees who come with an intention to bathe in the holy water of the Ganges and wash away their sins, many also come here to die and either be cremated or sunk to the bottom of the river. The main burning Ghat in Varanasi is Marakarnika Ghat where the burning ceremonies take place in large numbers and a visitor can view it from a balcony situated above. There is one another burning ghat known as the Harishchandra Ghat, which is a smaller version of the other ghat.