Ganga Ghaat_ a saga of 84 ghats of Banaras

Ganga Ghaat_ a saga of 84 ghats of Banaras Varanasi has nearly 100 ghats, steps leading to the banks of River Ganges. There are nearly 100 ghats in Varanasi (though the municipality lists out 84).

The most famous and the oldest ghats of all are the Dashashwamedha, the Manikarnika and the Harishchandra Ghat. Some of the ghats were made by Hindu rulers such as Ahilya Bai Holkar of Malwa region, Peshwa’s of Gwalior, Man Singh of Amber, Jai Singh of Jaipur etc.... Some of the Ghats are also named after the famous personalities of Banaras. Munshi Ghat is named after the Hindi poet Munshi Premcha

nd, Tulsi ghat is after Hindu poet Tulsidas who has written Ram Charit Manas. Many ghats are associated with the legends in Varanasi like the former Kashi Naresh who owns Shivala or Kali ghat. Most of the ghats were made at the time of the Marathas, Holkars, Bhonsles, Shindes (Scindias), and Peshwes (Peshwas) has been as patrons of present-day Varanasi. Narada Ghat, formerly known as Kuvai Ghat, was built by Dattatreya Swami, a monastery chief, in 1788. This ghat is related to Sage Narada, a divine musician and sage. The temple here enshrines the images of Naradesvara, Atrisvara, Vasukisvara and Dattatreyesvara.

This is "Ram Ghat" and the buildings surrounding it. It is located near the Harsiddhi Temple and was built by the Raja o...
14/11/2013

This is "Ram Ghat" and the buildings surrounding it. It is located near the Harsiddhi Temple and was built by the Raja of Jaipur. The ghat comes alive during the Ramnavami Mela held on the 9th day of Chaitra. Hindus take a bath early in the morning and worship Lord Ram in the neighboring temple.
courtesy: Ayush Agrawal

An early morning boat ride along the Ganges. The trip out went very well, but my guide spent the whole trip back trying ...
13/11/2013

An early morning boat ride along the Ganges. The trip out went very well, but my guide spent the whole trip back trying to renegotiate the price. We settled by agreeing that I would visit his uncle's silk shop, where I was treated to a delicious cup of tea, and after much haggling, ended up buying their cheapest offering, a couple of beautiful lengths of raw undyed silk

Originally it was called the Jalasayi ghat, it is presently popular as the Jalasen Ghat. This Ghat is just beside the Ma...
13/11/2013

Originally it was called the Jalasayi ghat, it is presently popular as the Jalasen Ghat. This Ghat is just beside the Manikornika Ghat (the photograph of which I had posted earlier) which is a cremation ghat. The tradition /custom was to dip the dead body in the Jalasayi Ghat before being carried to the Manikarnika Ghat for burning.
The ritual is considered an essential part of last rite ceremony, but the pathetic condition of the ghat has hardly left any scope for performing the ritual on the banks of Ganga in the city.
What I found was broken steps, ruptured embankments and scattered wastes with leftovers of last rite function that were dumped along the embankments were enough to give it a filthy and unhygienic look.
If it were not mandatory to perform the part of last rite function at the ghat, most people would avoid performing the ritual at the place.
It is not surprising that a number of people insist that the ceremony be performed at Manikarnika Ghat itself after witnessing the pathetic condition of the Jalasen Ghat. The place has become a dumping ground for relieving the articles used for last rite function and it remains one of the most ill-maintained ghat in the vicinity.
The ghat has witnessed some cleanliness work in the past with the help of local support, but the spate of rising and retreating Ganges has done harm to the embankments.

Boatmen getting ready for the morning at the Ghats in Varanasi.The Boatman and his Boat Has Been a significant and inter...
13/11/2013

Boatmen getting ready for the morning at the Ghats in Varanasi.
The Boatman and his Boat Has Been a significant and interesting subject of myths. In Greek mythology, Charon or Kharon is the ferryman of Hades who carries souls of the newly deceased across the rivers Styx and Acheron That divided the world of the living from the world of the dead.
The ancient Egyptian myths of boatmen ferrying both - the living and the dead in the Nile is well Documented. There is Noah and his Arc in the Old Testament, not to forget the Boatmen in the Sea of Galilee who were associated with one of the first miracles of Jesus ....
Here, one can not imagine Banaras now: Boats in the Ganges .. .. Its metaphoric overtones are a strong part of the vibrant canvas That is inseparably interwoven with this ancient City.

Banaras or Benaras or Varanasi ?Black Magic, Rituals or Learning or Wisdom...The Scriptures , that empowers the mendican...
13/11/2013

Banaras or Benaras or Varanasi ?
Black Magic, Rituals or Learning or Wisdom...
The Scriptures , that empowers the mendicant.
The Great Epics, that empowers the wise.
Saffron robes of renunciation and humility.
Prayer Beads on Bare skin that hold together myth and reality.
Go, go back to the Scriptures, for therein lie the cure
For therein lie emancipation. The release.
From the bo***ge of rebirth and Death.

There are nearly 100 ghats in Varanasi (though the municipality lists out 84). The most famous and the oldest ghats of a...
13/11/2013

There are nearly 100 ghats in Varanasi (though the municipality lists out 84). The most famous and the oldest ghats of all are the Dashashwamedha, the Manikarnika and the Harishchandra Ghat. Some of the ghats were made by Hindu rulers such as Ahilya Bai Holkar of Malwa region, Peshwa’s of Gwalior, Man Singh of Amber, Jai Singh of Jaipur etc.... Some of the Ghats are also named after the famous personalities of Banaras. Munshi Ghat is named after the Hindi poet Munshi Premchand, Tulsi ghat is after Hindu poet Tulsidas who has written Ram Charit Manas. Many ghats are associated with the legends in Varanasi like the former Kashi Naresh who owns Shivala or Kali ghat.
Most of the ghats were made at the time of the Marathas, Holkars, Bhonsles, Shindes (Scindias), and Peshwes (Peshwas) has been as patrons of present-day Varanasi.
Narada Ghat, formerly known as Kuvai Ghat, was built by Dattatreya Swami, a monastery chief, in 1788.
This ghat is related to Sage Narada, a divine musician and sage. The temple here enshrines the images of Naradesvara, Atrisvara, Vasukisvara and Dattatreyesvara.

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