The Timeless City of Varanasi

Varanasi, or Benaras (also popularly known as Kashi), is one of the oldest living cities in the world. Varanasi's importance in Hindu mythology is essentially hidden.
Brahma once weighed the heavens against Kashi. And Kashi, being heavier, sank while the skies, despite all the gods who lived there, rose upwards. – Adi Shankara, Manikarnikastotram.

The land of Varanasi (Kashi) has been the preferred pilgrimage place for Hindus forever and a day. It is believed that one who is blessed to die in the land of Varanasi would attain moksha and freedom from the process of birth and rebirth. The home of Lord Shiva and Parvati, the generation of Varanasi, is still unexplored. The Ganges in Varanasi is considered to have the power to cleanse the sins of mortals.

The city has been a hub of learning and civilization for around 3000 years. Ganges is said to have its birth in the head of hairs of Lord Shiva, and in Varanasi, it spreads to the huge river that we are aware of. Sarnath, the place where Buddha gave his first lesson after enlightenment, is just 10 km away.

Varanasi has been the epitome of Hindu rebirth. Knowledge, tradition, philosophy, holiness to the Gods, Indian arts, and culture have all grown here for centuries. It is also a pilgrimage place for Jains. Varanasi is considered to be the birthplace of Parsvanath, the twenty-third Tirthankar. Vaishnavism and Shaivism have coexisted in Varanasi altogether.

Varanasi has also been an admired center of learning for generations. Varanasi is connected with the encouragement of spiritualism, mysticism, Sanskrit, yoga, and the Hindi language, and renowned authors like the most-recognised novelist Prem Chand and Tulsi Das, the popular saint who wrote Ram Charit Manas. Relatively known as the cultural capital of India, Varanasi has offered the appropriate platform for all cultural activities to grow.

Many forms of dance and music have emerged from Varanasi. Ravi Shankar, the internationally recognised Sitar genius, and Ustad Bismillah Khan (the famous shehnai player) are all the rishis of the blessed city and have lived here for most of their lives.

With so many temples, Mrs. Annie Besant opted for Varanasi as the home for her 'Theosophical Society' and Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, to introduce 'Benaras Hindu University', the largest University in Asia. Ayurveda is said to have stemmed from Varanasi and is considered to be the foundation of modern medical sciences like Plastic surgery, Cataract, and calculus operations.

Maharshi Patanjali, the guru of Ayurveda and Yoga, was also associated with the sacred city, Varanasi. Varanasi is also popular for its trade and commerce, mainly for the quality silk and gold, and silver crochet, since the initial days.

New Viswanath Temple, BHU

The New Vishwanath Temple is every prayerful man's preferred destination to feel devout in the presence and strength of the great Lord Shiva. Not only is it located in the center of the cultural capital of India - Varanasi, but its godliness is doubled by the holy river Ganga that runs by its side. Banaras Hindu University is therefore home to one of the largest tourist sites in the city of Varanasi, the New Vishwanath Temple. Going to this temple provides the devotees a place to put themselves in the hands of God, at his feet, and listen to the sound in their heart.

Sankat Mochan Temple

The Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple is located by the River Assi and was constructed in the 1900s by the freedom fighter Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya. It is devoted to Lord Rama and Hanuman. Varanasi is always related to Sankat Mochan Temple and is an important part of this divine city. Every person visiting Varanasi goes to this temple and pays their prayers to Hanuman Ji.

The Laddoo offered at this temple is significantly popular among the locals. While visiting Sankat Mochan, be cautious of monkeys who crowd the temple premises and run for the prasad to take with them. However, they are not harmless if you don't disturb them.

Ganga Aarti

Ganga Aarti is a significant ritual conducted on a grand level every morning and evening on the banks of the divine Ganges. The priests conduct the Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat. The whole Ghat gets lit up with a sacred light can be felt immensely. The magnificent ritual includes large brass lamps filled with oil, and the priest chants the mantras that echo in the location. As evening falls, the ghats of Varanasi are energized with the alluring Ganga Aarti. Priests, dressed in traditional clothes, choreograph the ritual with concurred movements, together with symmetrical ringing of bells and chanting of hymns. The point of attraction is the illuminated lamps, or diyas, beautifully oscillated in circular motions, making detailed patterns against the scenery of the dimming sky. The fragrance of incense and the loudness of divine mantras fill the air that providing a really absorbing experience.

Dev Diwali

Dev Deepavali, also popularly known as the Diwali of the Gods, is a majestic celebration that takes place in the divine city of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. This event is conducted fifteen days after the famous festival of Diwali, Dev Deepavali is a special manifestation of devotion, spirituality, and an amazing display of lights that changes the spiritual capital of India into the world of divine illumination.

Dev Deepavali is witnessed on the full moon day of the Kartik month in the Hindu calendar, generally taking place in November. This day is important as it marks Tripura Purnima, expressing the worship of Lord Shiva. These celebrations are escalated as it is considered that on this day, the Gods go down to the Ganga ghats at Varanasi, which makes it a spiritually intriguing event.