If you want to visit a spiritual paradise then you’ve come to the right place. Varanasi, India is perhaps one of the most incredible cities in the world to visit.
Varanasi is a city in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh dating to the 11th century B.C. Regarded as the spiritual capital of India, the city draws Hindu pilgrims who bathe in the Ganges River’s sacred waters and perform funeral rites. Along the city's winding streets are some 2,000 temples, including Kashi Vishwanath, the “Golden Temple,” dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.
Varanasi, India has a population of 3,676,841 people. This includes 1,921,857 men and 1,754,984 women. The population density is 2,399 people per square kilometer. Compared to São Paulo Brazil where there are 7,528.3 inhabitants per square kilometer it’s less than a third, and spiritually calming which makes locals nice and friendly while from what I gather a safe place to visit.
There's no two ways about it; you're not going to Varanasi for contemporary art or white-sandy beaches. This place is the spiritual centre of India. According to legend, the Hindu deity Lord Shiva founded the city 5,000 years ago. It’s also known as Kashi (City of Life) and Benaras. It is famous for the following reasons:
Varanasi is a holy city for Hindus and Jains, and has been a pilgrimage site for thousands of years. Hindus believe that dying in Varanasi will liberate them from the cycle of rebirth and cleanse them of their sins. Jains believe it's the birthplace of Parsvanath, the 23rd Tirthankar.
The city is known for its many ghats, which are stone steps that lead to the Ganges River. Pilgrims perform rituals, prayers, and purifications at the ghats. Some of the most notable ghats include Dashashwamedh Ghat (see above picture), Panchganga Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, and Harishchandra Ghat.
Varanasi has thousands of temples dedicated to Shiva and other deities, including the Golden Temple. Varanasi is also famous for its food, including kachori-sabzi, chaat, litti-chokha, malaiyyo, banarasi paan, thandai, and tamatar chaat. Baati chokha is a popular dish made with locally grown wheat and vegetables cooked in a clay oven.
Varanasi is known for its vocal and instrumental music, dance tradition, folk music, and drama. It is also a center of learning and civilization associated with spiritualism, mysticism, Sanskrit, yoga, and the Hindi language.
Take care!
Prof. Carl Boniface
Tamatar chaat recipe:
Komentarze