India is known for its commotion and bustle. But in Varanasi, there is stillness. Days here begin and end with heads bowed, palms placed together, foreheads pressed to prayer mats, and circlings of clay lamps. Of the country’s seven sacred cities of Hinduism, which are said to provide enlightenment and freedom, Varanasi is considered the holiest. In ancient Sanskrit texts it’s referred to as ‘the shining one’. For hundreds of years, pilgrims have journeyed to India’s City of Light to pray and seek spiritual awareness.
Varanasi’s history is a tale of religious development across multiple faiths. According to Hindu mythology, the city was founded by the god Shiva. Buddhism and Sikhism also have their origins here. It’s believed that Buddha gave his first sermon nearby in 528 BCE, while in 1507, the esteemed Guru Nanak visited Varanasi in a journey that influenced his Sikh teachings. Today, the culmination of centuries of devotion can be seen along the Ganges River.
The city is situated on the banks of the river, which flows from the Himalayan Mountains and brings with it fertility and life-giving deposits. It is worshipped by Hindus as the goddess Ganga, and bathing in it is said to cleanse a person of their sins. Within Varanasi, there are over 80 separate ghats, or river embankments. Here, locals perform puja – a ritual of prayers and offerings to God, or in the case of the Manikarnika and Harishchandra Ghats, cremate their loved ones in a final act to attain salvation. Anyone who visits the city is invited to celebrate this holy river at the annual Ganga Mahotsav festival which takes place at the end of Diwali.
Beyond the Ganges, the diversity of faiths courses through the rest of the city. It’s estimated that there are over 20 000 temples, mosques, churches and shrines spread across Varanasi. While a place of worship can be found on almost every street and corner, some are unique. Unlike most that contain statues of saints, gods, and goddesses, the Bharat Mata Mandir is dedicated to Mother India and instead features a map of the country replete with mountain ranges and rivers carved in marble.
In Varanasi, it’s not just the sheer number of religious buildings that make the city holy. Spirituality is in the waters of the Ganges, briefly cupped in the hands of a believer before falling back into the river’s depths. It’s in the gentle eyes of the revered cows that amble through the alleys, and the fragrant trail of an agarbatti stick. Light emanates from the flame of a diya, the laugh of a child, the smile of every passerby. Embark on a pilgrimage here, and discover it within you too.
