VARANASI INDIA
Varanasi is a city in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located on the left bank of the Ganga River. Earlier it was known as KASHI, which means city of light.
After that, it was known as BANARAS (Britishers used to call it BENARAS.) But recently it is
famously known as Varanasi which is derived the two rivers, one is the VARUNA river and the other
one is ASSI River.
It is a famous Hindu holy city on the Ganga River bank. The city is known as Kashi. “The luminous” in the Rigveda. It is often referred to as the city of temples and learning. Varanasi is the oldest city in the world. if the legends are to be believed. It is said that it is the abode of lord Shiva and goddess Parvati. The culture of Varanasi is deeply related to the river Ganga and the river’s religious importance Varanasi is known Mainly for its ghat and is the religious bathing place for the pilgrims. The city has a culture and religion that has been in northern India for thousands of years. Hindus believe that one who is graced to die on the land of Varanasi would attain salvation and freedom of the cycle of birth and re-birth.
HOW DID VARANASI GET ITS NAME?
• Varanasi which means city of light. It’s derived from the
two rivers one is Varanasi and second is Assi river.
• Traditional etymology links Varanasi to the names of wo
Ganges tributaries forming the city’s border:
VARUNA, still flowing in northern Varanasi,and ASSI, today a small
stream in the southern part of the city near Assi Ghat.
VARANASI CITY OF LIGHTS
• In the mahabharata and in ancient India, the city is referred to as
Kasi from the Sanskrit verbal root kas- “to shine”
making Varanasi known as the “city of lights”
• Varanasi is also known as the “city of death” because hoping that
by dying and being cremated there, they can break out of
the Hindu rebirth cycle and attain salvation.
GANGA AARTI
• The world-famous ganga aarti was started by PANDIT MADAN
MOHAN MALVIVYA IN 1916. Since then Ganga aarti has been
organized by Shir ganga sabha, two times a day, MANGALA
AARTI at sunrise and SHRINGAR AARTI at sunset.
• Ganga aarti is a magnificent evening ritual in Varanasi. Its origin is in
the city of Varanasi, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities
in the world. It is a special place in Hinduism, as it is believed to
be the adobe of lord Shiva. The aarti, or workshopping river
Ganga takes place every day.
VARANASI GHAT
• The ghat of Varanasi are riverfront steps leading to the banks of
the Ganges river. The city has 84 ghats. Most of the ghats are
bathing and puja ceremonial ghats, while two ghats
MANIKARNIKA GHAT and HARISHCHANDRA GHAT are used
exclusively as cremation sites.
GANGA AARTI
