Varanasi

by | Dec 22, 2012

Mark Twain truly said that “Varanasi is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together”.

Varanasi is also commonly known as Benares or Benaras and Kashi, a city on the banks of the River Ganges in Uttar Pradesh. According to legend, the city was founded by the Hindu deity Lord Shiva, several thousand years ago which makes it one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in the country. It is regarded as a holy city by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and the oldest in India.

Enjoy the spirit of Varanasi here….

Morning Puja on the Ganges at Varanasi.

Om!

Morning Puja on the Ganges at Varanasi.

Morning Puja On Ganges

In memory of the forefathers

He came all the way from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, to Varasnasi to bring homage to his deceiced ancesters, like so many Hindu from all over India, believing that after death, the soul given to the Goddes Ganga, remains in the river of life and death.

He came all the way from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, to Varasnasi to bring homage to his deceased ancestors, like so many Hindu from all over India, believing that after death, the soul given to the Goddess Ganga, remains in the river of life and death.

Sun Rise on the Ganges at varanasi.

Sun Rise on the Ganges.

Body Building

Morning body building on the Ganges at Varanasi.

Early morning body building at Varanasi.

Puja

Puja before Body Building at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Puja before body Building.

Body Building

Early morning body building at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Early morning body building at Varanasi

Body Builiding

Early morning body building on the Ganges at varanasi.

Early morning body building on the Ganges.

Pranayam

Early morning pranayam on the Ganges at varanasi.

Early morning pranayam on the Ganges.

Yoga

Morning yoga on the Ganges at Varanasi, India.

Sit – Up

Early morning body building at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Early morning body building on the Ganges.

Priest

Priest

A priest at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

A priest at Varanasi.

Sadhu

A Sadhu at Varanasi, India.

A Sadhu at Varanasi.

Handful of blessing

Puja at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Pradeep Kumar Dwivedi, the priest of the Shitala Mandir at Dasaswamedh Ghat, Varanasi is one of the few survivors of a tragic bus accident on 3rd June 1996 morning where more than fifty people were killed. Four people are still in coma. In that accident he lost one of his hands. As the time passes by he realized that he was being neglected by his family as he became physically challenged due to that tragic occurrence. One day he told his father that he’ll earn himself and he came to Varanasi. When he came to Varanasi he fell in love with the ancient city.

Pradeep Kumar Dwivedi, the priest of the Shitala Mandir at Dasaswamedh Ghat, Varanasi is one of the few survivors of a tragic bus accident on 3rd June 1996 morning where more than fifty people were killed. Four people are still in coma. In that accident he lost one of his hands. As the time passes by he realized that he was being neglected by his family as he became physically challenged due to that tragic occurrence. One day he told his father that he’ll earn himself and he came to Varanasi. When he came to Varanasi he fell in love with the ancient city.

Mentor

Ganga Darshan

Boating on the Ganges at Varanasi, Uttapradesh, India.

Boating on the Ganges

Ganga Darshan

Ganga Darshan

Ghats

Ghats of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Ghats of Varanasi

Fortune Teller

A fortune teller on the Ganges at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

A fortune teller on the Ganges at Varanasi.

Sadhu

A priest from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

A priest from Varanasi.

Waiting

An old woman at Varanasi, India.

An old woman at Varanasi.

Puja

Puja on the Shitala Mandir.

Puja

Puja on the bank of Ganges.

Burning Ghat

Burning Ghat on the Ganges at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, In

Burning Ghat on the Ganges at Varanasi.

Burning Memories

Burning Memories

Few days ago early in the morning one mobile call from Varanasi really shocked me for some time. Only four words “Sir Kiran mama chale gaye” (Kiran uncle is no more). Though I was getting ready for my office but couldn’t control myself and sat on the couch for an hour. He was only 65 ! Kiran Chowdhury, the famous Doma (A Hindu caste whose duty is to burn the dead and look after the crematorium) of Varanasi is no more ! Though he’ll not burn bodies anymore but there’ll be burning all the time. From now bodies will be burnt without his touch as he burnt to ashes. During my last visit to Varanasi we had a long discussion regarding Hinduism and Karma. That day once again I realised that wisdom doesn’t come from the books always.

Burning Ghat

Burning Ghat on the Ganges at Varanasi, India.

Burning Ghat on the Ganges at Varanasi.

Navaratri

A family celebrating Sharada Navaratri at Varanasi, India.

A family celebrating Sharada Navaratri at Varanasi.

Evening Puja

Evening Puja on the Ganges at Varanasi.

Evening Puja on the Ganges at Varanasi.

Durga Bisarjan

Dura Bisorjon on the Ganges at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

DURGA BISARJAN on the Ganges at Varanasi.

Puja

Evening Puja on Doshomi at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

Evening Puja on Doshomi at Varanasi.

Dura Bisarjan

Dura Bisorjon on the Ganges at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

DURGA BISARJAN on the Ganges at Varanasi.

Sondha Aroti

Sondha Aroti(Evening Puja) on the Ganges at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Sondha Aroti (Evening Puja) on the Ganges at Varanasi.

Sondha Aroti

Sondha Aroti(Evening Puja) on the Ganges at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Sondha Aroti (Evening Puja) on the Ganges at Varanasi.

A panoramic view of the Varanasi ghats.

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