For all its filth, the Ganga is indeed the "river of heaven" for Hindus. And some of this sanctity reaches out to the tourists and everybody else. But why, really, are we in Varanasi? Is it not perhaps to experience the closeness of death and its frightening everyday character? The oarsmen who row the tourist boats know what their customers want to see. In my own case, I was rowed past the most famous cremation grounds where huge dark piles of ...
By Ingvar Oja My driver Ramesh was waiting for me at the crack of dawn outside the main doors of the Varanasi hotel. We moved slowly along the narrow lanes of the holy city, driving as close to the Ganga as possible. And then alighting from the three-wheeler to find our way by foot, in semi-darkness, passing a number of shapeless piles of cloth lying on the floor. Ramesh explained: "They're old people who've come here to wait for death. Varanasi is ...
Varanasi is said to be the oldest surviving city of the world. Varanasi is also called as Kashi or Benaras. Being the most venerated pilgrim place in Hindu religion, Varanasi is said to be a museum of temples. Also called the city of temples, Varanasi is home to about 2,000 temples. People from all parts of India as well as the world come to Varanasi to visit these temples, making the holy temples of Varanasi amongst the most visited temples in India. Many important and famous ...
Varanasi or Kashi is older than traditions. Varanasi presents a unique combination of physical, metaphysical and supernatural elements. According to the Hindu mythology, Varanasi liberates soul from human body to the ultimate. It is the Ganga Ghats of Varanasi that complement the concept of divinity. Ghats of Ganga are perhaps the holiest spots of Varanasi. The Ganga Ghats at Varanasi are full of pilgrims who flock to the place to take a dip in the holy Ganges, which is believed to absolve one from all sins. There are number ...
Varanasi is the most popular pilgrimage place for the Hindus. The rich cultural heritage and tradition of Varanasi makes it the cultural capital of India. For ages, Varanasi has been a center of learning of Indian philosophy, spiritualism, mysticism and other branches of education. Varanasi is essentially a melting pot of Indian culture. In Hindu religion, it is believed that one, who dies and is cremated at Varanasi, gets an instant gateway to liberation from the cycle of births and re-births. Being associated with Hindu traditions ...
They write poems and ribald songs about this heart-shaped leaf. It is even mentioned in the Buddhist Jataka tales and, over the centuries, it has gathered its own legends as a symbol of celebration, friendship and romance. The Kamasutra mentions it as necessary to the rituals of courtship and courtesans reddened their lips by chewing a paan, a rolled betel leaf. You welcomed guests with a ...
13 November 2010
For all its filth, the Ganga is indeed the "river of heaven" for Hindus. And some of this sanctity reaches out to the tourists and everybody else. But why, really, are we in Varanasi? Is it not perhaps to experience the closeness of death and its frightening everyday character?
Posted in Featured, GhatsComments (0)
13 November 2010
My driver Ramesh was waiting for me at the crack of dawn outside the main doors of the Varanasi hotel. We moved slowly along the narrow lanes of the holy city, driving as close to the Ganga as possible. And then alighting from the three-wheeler to find our way by foot, in semi-darkness, passing a number of shapeless piles of cloth lying on the floor.
Posted in Featured, GhatsComments (0)
21 October 2010
Varanasi is said to be the oldest surviving city of the world. Varanasi is also called as Kashi or Benaras. Being the most venerated pilgrim place in Hindu religion, Varanasi is said to be a museum of temples. Also called the city of temples, Varanasi is home to about 2,000 temples. People from all parts [...]
Posted in Featured, TemplesComments (0)
21 October 2010
Varanasi or Kashi is older than traditions. Varanasi presents a unique combination of physical, metaphysical and supernatural elements. According to the Hindu mythology, Varanasi liberates soul from human body to the ultimate. It is the Ganga Ghats of Varanasi that complement the concept of divinity. Ghats of Ganga are perhaps the holiest spots of Varanasi. [...]
Posted in Featured, GhatsComments (0)
21 October 2010
Varanasi is the most popular pilgrimage place for the Hindus. The rich cultural heritage and tradition of Varanasi makes it the cultural capital of India. For ages, Varanasi has been a center of learning of Indian philosophy, spiritualism, mysticism and other branches of education. Varanasi is essentially a melting pot of Indian culture. In Hindu [...]
Posted in Featured, FestivalsComments (0)
20 October 2010
They write poems and ribald songs about this heart-shaped leaf. It is even mentioned in the Buddhist Jataka tales and, over the centuries, it has gathered its own legends as a symbol of celebration, friendship and romance. The Kamasutra mentions it as necessary to the rituals of courtship and courtesans reddened their lips by chewing [...]
Posted in Featured, MastiComments (0)
