The Ghats of Varanasi

           

                       The Ghats of Varanasi 

 

    

The Ghats are undoubtedly the most valuable assets of Varanasi. None can imagine this holy city without the Ghats,the nearly the 7km arc line of Ganges riverfront between the confluence of the river Asi in south and Varuna in north.

Varanasi has many beautiful ghats on the ganga's coast. Al these ferries are related to some mythological or religious facts. The ghats of varanasi seems to be pleasant because of shape of the bow of the river ganga. being the prodominant of all the ghats,at the time of sunrise the first ray of sun knocks on the ghats. starting from Rajghat in the north,there are more than 100 ghats till the assi ghat.

Glory of the Ghats

Shiv nagri is the glory of the ghats of kashi, the ancient city of is holiest city in the world and the focal point of religion and culture. these ghats are only witnessed for gangapuja on various auspicious occassions. the various saints who took the shelter at these ghats were Tulsidas, Ramanand, Ravidas, Telang Swami. The various kings built their palaces on these ganga ghats.

Coordination of entire Indian culture on these ghats are present in living form. Ghtas have publicized a different image of kashi. Various religioud programs are organised here are Ganga arti, Ganga mahotsav, Devdiwali etc.

For Kashi villagers Ganga Ghats are very important in terms of religious spiritual importance as well as tourism in term of fun.
One can see the beauty of Varanasi Ghats when traditional cult is being practiced here. Only watching priests and devotees performing rituals and Aarti of mother Ganges at the evening make you mesmerized, let alone the idea of joining ceremonies and being a participant. Many senior priests joining there disciple, and all those who visiting Kashi from different part of the world and India, altogether starts singing Aarti on high pitch of the voice in a same rhythm, can make charming and lover of this city. Many priests in the front row holding giant Aarti lamps at the edge of Ghats, uncountable Diyas (tiny lamps specially to floating on the sacred water of ganga along with the Ghats) floting over the water stream of Holy Ganga makes brighter scenario and that is how this divine brightness given the name “The city of lights”. The best time to visit the Ghats is at the break of dawn, when pilgrims perform the Surya Pranam immersed waist deep in the waters of the holy Ganges. 

Popular Ghats   

There are some famous ghats in Varanasi.Some of these ghats have religious and spiritual significance and some ghats have their antiquity in terms of some historical and arts moments.

Assi Ghat

assi ghat is situated on the southern end of the Varanasi,on the confluence of the river ganga ab assi river. This ghat is a major center of faith and attraction of devotees. At the assi ghat the famous temple of lord jagannath is located.

Tulsi Ghat

This ghat is realated to the famous poet tulsidas. here goswami tulsidas had composed manyportions of SRIRAMCHARIT MANAS . It is said that tulsidas had spent his last time at this ghat. earlier tulsighat is known as Lolark ghat but after that it is named as Tulsi ghat.

Harischandra Ghat

This ghat is related our great king Raja Harischandra. In the name of the satyapati raja harischandra this ghat is one of the oldest ghat in Varanasi. On this ghat hindus perform cremation posthumously.

Kedar Ghat

Kedar ghat is named after kedareswar mahadev temple. Swami karpattri Ashram and gauri kund aresituated near this ghat.

Some other popular ghats are:                              

Rajendra Ghat

Manikarnika Ghat

Chet Singh Ghat

Raj Ghat

Pannchganga Ghat

Creamation of Ghats

In Hindu traditions, cremation is one of the rites of passage and the Ghats of Varanasi are considered one of the auspicious locations for this ritual. At the time of the cremation or "last rites", a "puja(prayer) is performed. Hymns and mantras are recited during cremation to mark the ritual. The Manikarnika and Harishchandra Ghats are dedicated to the cremation ritual. Annually, less than 2 in 1000 people who die in India, or 25,000 to 30,000 bodies are cremated on various Varanasi Ghats; about an average of 80 per day. This practice has become controversial for the pollution it causes to the river. In 1980s, the Government of India funded a Clean Ganges initiative, to address cremation and other sources of pollution along the Ghats of Varanasi. In many cases, the cremation is done elsewhere and only the ashes are dispersed into the river near these Ghats.