This time our Varanasi visit happened after a gap of almost 6 years. When in varanasi what we like most is walking on ghats, sitting on the steps sometimes near water on others somewhere on higher steps and every time we return with different experiences and stories. The best part of spending time on ghats is that they let you be with yourself midst all the bustling crowd and multitude of activities. hordes of people, variety of sounds and all kinds of activities, nothing distracts you if you really want to sit and just be. Quietly flowing holy river as if enters inside and peace trickles inside drop by drop. The white sand on the other side, the rows of green trees running along the stretch of sand, the blue sky over kneeling down to come closer, and the noise in the background fades away. Whenever I feel lost, I would come here to find myself.

Behind me the steps rose high and at the top was a small temple, a Hanuman idol in orange shone on the wall, bhajans floated down to me and I looked upward with a belief, a firm one that heaven is there somewhere. Someone is watching us and those birds soaring high are messengers of peace and hope.

And then listening to the stories of these ever-travelling people, who go with flow of life, not deciding about the next day. These people fascinate me and on every visit to Kashi I meet someone or other of this type. It’s not that they don’t have got a place of their own rather they belong to every place they go. This all-embracing capability is so liberating.

Shravan month and Kashi, abode of lord Shive, Baba Vishwanath, early morning fresh air, shlokas and Bhajans, joy just sprouts on its own.

This one is newly renovated ghat. Majestic it looks and this stretches up to the high raised gate leading to the new corridor around Vishwanath temple. Next picture gives a glimpse of the gate.

crowd definitely is there but most of the people are within themselves and that’s what I call Kashi effect.

Morning at Assi ghat. we could not make there for morning Ganga Aarti but then the quiet ghat with cool breeze welcomed us. Boats lined up, flags fluttering and the big green tree, the red temple, it all felt so serene and calm.

This one is at Rajendra prasad ghat adjacent to Dashashwamegh ghat.

From this end to that end, from banks to beyond the boats row and the journey continues. Each of us cover the distance in our own way, own way or as is designed for us but reach the same destination. It’s the journey that matters and how we traverse.

And the affectionate touch of Ma Ganga. Since time immemorial it goes on flowing quietly, embracing you when you come to Her.

Every ghat, every step, every shrine, of Varanasi has its own charisma. his time we were lucky to be there during Shravan month. The city was abuzz with orange clad Kavariyans, bhajans and devotional sentiments.

Till next post…

All pictures by Sunder Iyer