Varanasi: How To Discover Hinduism In The Holy City Of India?

Varanasi (or Benares) is a city located in Uttar Pradesh, a region much further east than the traditional Rajasthan. Unlike any other city in northern India, it is considered holy by Hindus. Going to Varanasi is a good way to immerse you in India but especially to discover Hinduism in a different way.

A Timeless City

Rajasthan, a beautiful land populated by temples and forts, is a timeless and unmissable region of India. Only, if you have the possibility of extending your stay in the Indian subcontinent by a few days, you have to go to Varanasi, easily accessible from Agra or Delhi.

Luxury Train Tour Packges to Varanasi

6 Nights / 7 Days Indian Panorama – Maharaja Express

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This city is considered one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. It reigns a very specific and particular atmosphere that takes you to a completely different universe. Do not look for witness buildings from distant ages and Sikh or Mogul periods as few remains are still present in the city.

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A Spiritual Atmosphere

The atmosphere that reigns, rocked by the rites and traditions of Hinduism will get you drunk and introduce you to this religion which has, according to the World Christian Encyclopedia, nearly 812 million followers. Varanasi is considered one of the seven sacred cities for Hindus. The Ganga, the river that borders the city, would have sprung from the skull of the god Shiva, one of the three founding gods of Hinduism. As such, the city has the largest number of pilgrims in India. You cannot visit this city without impregnating yourself with the rituals and customs of Hindus. The temples in honor of Shiva are numerous and you will be more able than anywhere else to meet devotees in their orange outfits and understand this religion.

At dusk, attend a gala aarti waterside ceremony in honor of the Ganges on the Dashashwamedh ghats. The pujaris and Hindu priests are gathered on a kind of platform and worship the river with incense, illumination and flowers. This century-old ritual can be perceived as a kind of perfectly synchronized choreography that makes you escape for an hour. The place where the ganga aarti is is flooded with people. You will meet pilgrims, believers or simply Indian tourists who come to attend this ceremony so specific to Varanasi. Hundreds of people are sitting on the steps to witness this ceremonial while others watch this ritual from the Ganges itself, sitting on the famous boats of Varanasi.

The lights of street lamps and candles blend with the colors of saris, flowers and skin colors. Traditional music captivates you in a cheerful atmosphere and pushes you to reflect, melancholy or simply dreaming. Let your eyes observe the mastered, synchronized and orderly gestures of the pujaris, the Indians, or naturally enjoy the moment.

After an hour, the ceremony comes to an end, you sit watching the crowd movements and the coming and going of the pilgrims. You are still dreaming and you already regret the end of this extraordinary and splendid ceremony.

The Ghats Of Varanasi

Another peculiarity of the city is undoubtedly its ghats, there are almost 100 in Varanasi. The city is skirted by the Ganges and it is not the banks that extend but very wide steps where the daily life of the inhabitants takes place. The Ganges is scene of many things. You will see people bathing, washing or just washing their clothes. Couples then carefully dry their business on the ground on these famous ghats. The children play there, the young people meet there, the merchants wander there … The ghats are entirely part of the city and remains the best way to escape the heat of the houses during the hot months.

It is also on these ghats that the cremations take place, more specifically on the ghats of Manikarnika and Harishchandra. Hindus do not bury their dead but burn the bodies to stop the cycle of reincarnations. Again, this is a long ritual where the family brings the body on the ghats. They take a last bath to the deceased, in the Ganges, to wash him of all his sins, then put on his best clothes and cover him with jewels and flowers.

The body is then placed on the pyre and cremation can then take place. Only children under the age of 10, pregnant women and people who die of a snake bite are not cremated because they are already considered pure people.

The vision of this procession can be difficult for some people but it is also a way to observe the rites in a different way and possibly apprehend death and the beyond in another way.

Varanasi is, undeniably, a very particular city but also sublime and incredibly surprising. A weekend in the city allows you to be in touch with the Hindu religion, Indian traditions and local customs. It is a personal enrichment for sure.