At Varanasi’s Ghats, shimmering diyas, ringing bells, and hymns captivate the soul
One of the holiest cities on earth, Varanasi is thought to be where devotion reaches its pinnacle and where one can feel firsthand how tightly connected the heavenly spirit is to this realm of mortals. Since an undetermined period of time, Varanasi has been referred to as Kashi. In addition to being divine, it is brimming with alluring beauty that will steal your heart. Not only fans, but also royalty were drawn to the opulent city’s expressiveness and majesty.
The Ganga, one of the most notable rivers and one of the most holy, flows through Varanasi. The most important of all spiritual rites is worshipping Ganga and jumping into the river. Therefore, in this holy city of Lord Vishwanath, the Ghats or riverfront steps stand as examples of historical architecture. Numerous pilgrims and tourists from all over the nation come here solely to take a holy bath.
Kashi or Varanasi, which is regarded as the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, features 84 ancient Ghats. You will reach a level that is simply beyond your wildest dreams with the help of gleaming diyas and sparkling chimes.
Here are a few famous river stairs or ghats that we could mention:
Dasashwamedh Ghat:
Due to its proximity to the Sri Kashi Vishwanath shrine and the regular influx of pilgrims, this fabled ghat is arguably the most alluring in the entire city. According to tales, Lord Brahma offered his ten horses as sacrifice here, and as a result, this ghat came to be known as Dasashwamedh Ghat. This ghat was afterwards renovated by Bajirao Peshwa I in the year 1740 AD, and rani Ahilyabai Holkar, the queen of Indore, rebuilt it once more in the year 1774 AD.
The most intriguing thing about this ghat is that it regularly hosts the famed Gnaga Aarti, a religious ceremony that lasts for almost an hour. Tourists from throughout the nation and outside swarm to Dasashwamedh Ghat only to catch a glimpse of it.
Assi Ghat:
Another lucky ghat where the Ganges River joins the Assi River is called Assi Ghat. This is a historic ghat that has been mentioned in numerous legendary texts, including the Matsya Purana. Legend has it that after slaying the demons Shumbha and Nissumbha, Goddess Durga threw her sword, which crashed on the soil with great force and produced the Assi River’s stream. Additionally, it is believed that Tulsi Das only penned the epic Ramcharitmanas when seated at this location. This Ghat is venerated spiritually and has historical and mythological significance.
Manikarnika Ghat:
According to legend, Lord Shiva was enraged by grief and began destroying the world when Mata Sati set herself on fire and set her body on fire after his father Raja Daksh attempted to humiliate her husband Lord Shiva in a Yagya practised by Daksh. Lord Vishnu intervened as the world’s saviour and he divided Mata Sati’s body into 51 pieces with his Sudarshan Chakra. Wherever Sati’s body had fallen to the ground and those pieces were, Lord Shiva built Shakti Peeth. Manikarnika Ghat is sacred because that is where Mata Sati’s ear jewellery fell. This ghat is mostly used for cremations.
Scindia Ghat:
The holy city’s Scindhia Ghat is another well-known ghat. Agni, the God of Fire, was born in this location. The sacred Shiva temple, which is located right next to the ghat and is nearly buried in the Ganges, is thought to have been so hefty that it forced the ghat to fall into the river. Since then, it is thought that the temple has been steadily sinking, and it will soon be buried in water. In the region known as Siddha Kshetra, which is located above Scindia ghat, are some of Varanasi’s most venerated shrines. Another common notion in the area is that those who worship at this ghat will be granted a son.
Chet Singh Ghat:
The majority of tourists visit Varanasi’s Chet Singh Ghat, one of its most stunning ghats. Maharaja Chet Singh built it in the eighteenth century. Warren Hastings, the first governor-general of India, and Maharaja Chet Singh engaged in a bloody combat in the ghat and its surroundings. The story of the valiant Indian monarch Chet Singh is portrayed on this ghat. After Chet Singh was defeated, the British took control of this magnificent Ghat. In the later half of the 19th century, Maharaja Prabhu Narayan Singh won back the ghat from the British. Due to the river’s rapid flow, taking a holy dip is prohibited here.
