A trip to Varanasi filled with mysticism.

A photographer’s Paradise would definitely be a visit to Varanasi in India. It is India’s holiest city, located on the Ganges River. As Mark Twain wrote of the city, ‘”Older than History, older than tradition, older even than legend; and looking twice as old as all of them put together.”  The Hindus believe that one who is graced to die in the land of Varansi would attain salvation and freedom from the cycle of birth and re-birth.

 A sunrise cruise on the Ganges would be the best time for seeing the pilgrims waist deep in water, praying specific prayers to Mother Ganges “who feeds us all.” A panorama of men in briefs and women in saris bathing in the holy water, after which they perform the work of worshipping, is memorable, After a bath in the sacred waters of the Ganges, cleansed of all impurity and sin; the devotee feels he is in union with His Maker.  The crowds are overwhelming. You will witness life and death on the river.

With Sarnath, the place where Buddha preached his first sermon, a short distance away; Varanasi has been a symbol of Hindu renaissance. Knowledge, culture, devotion to Gods and philosophy have all flourished here for centuries. It has been associated with promotion of spiritualism, mysticism, yoga and Hindu language

Benaras, a name given by the British, was formally known as Varanasi. It is said to have been founded by Lord Shiva. It attracts tourists who come to absorb the over 3,000 year history of learning and civilization. This tract of land between the Varuna and Assi Rivers is believed to be the holiest of all pilgrimage sites, and is one of the oldest cities in the world; as old as Jerusalem, Athens, Peking, and Mecca. It is called the “City of Spiritual Light.”  It has attracted a large number of worshippers from time immemorial. Cups with lighted candles and/or flowers and incense float down the Ganges amid small cruise boats. To make the waters even more colorful, small boats float along with merchants selling their wares of local goods.

People flock to the ghats, which are the steep stairs that lead to the landings on the river. They come to have a ritual bath and perform pooja in the rising sun. They bring glass jars with them to fill up with the holy water.

Family members and friends do cremations here with much ceremony. Bodies are wrapped in shrouds and carried towards the holy water before cremation. Manikarnika Ghat  is one of the oldest and most sacred in Varanasi and is one of the most auspicious places that a Hindu can be cremated.

Disembarking from  the water, a walking tour of the old city is a maze through throngs of people on narrow streets, innumerable small shops selling local products and food, and a visit to the important temples. The colorful outfits that women wear, the smells of the food at the local stalls, and the pushing crowds are all part of the mystique of this place.

At dusk, another boat ride awaited us on the Ganges to watch flames of cremations in the evening, hear the resonance of beautiful music of bells and hymns sung by devotees, with the backdrop of the colorful architecture of buildings on the shore. Floating candles in cups on the water caught our eye. This completed an awesome day of mesmerizing beauty.

A visit to India to Delhi, Jaipur, Agra must include a visit to this holy and beautiful city… a sight to always remember.