Though Varanasi is perceived by
the Buddhist train passengers as a stopover point to visit the second important
Pilgrimage Site, Sarnath,
the location in itself is a spiritual attraction of India. Famous as one of the
oldest continuing inhabited cities in the world, Varanasi has a unique
spiritual connect that makes it a favoured pilgrimage attraction of India. The
city, located on the western banks of the revered River Ganges in the state of
Uttar Pradesh is a prominent Hindu pilgrimage location.
Known by many names like Kashi,
Banaras or Benaras, the city offers the rich cultural and ritualistic glimpses
of real India. Considered the most sacred by Hindus, Jains and Buddhists, the
city annually invites more than 1,000,000 pilgrims. It even finds mention in
the epics of India, i.e. Ramayana and Mahabharata.
All the rituals in the city
center on its ghats. The city has nearly 100 ghats, each of which caters to the
specific purpose. Most of them are used to take holy dips in the pure and
sacred Ganges, perform various rituals and worship the river. The bustling
around the riverfronts begins in the early morning and continues till late
evening. The center of attraction surely is the lifeline of India, the river
Ganges. Tourists prefer early morning visits to the ghats of Varanasi to
observe the devotees engaged in offering prayers and performing rituals.
Another aspect of Benaras that
mystifies the tourist is the ritual of cremation performed at the Manikarnika
Ghat. It is often believed that cremation in Varanasi releases the soul from
the cycles of its transmigrations. This is the main reason why continuously the
cremations are carried out on this ghat.
The evening Aarti or worship of
River Ganges included in the Buddhist Circuit Train Tour is again a spectacular
sight for tourists. In the evening, tourists are given special boat ride on the
mighty river and even given the privilege of engaging the mind, body and soul
in the devotional aarti ritual. This is a norm of Varanasi where visitors feel
enthralled with the magnificence and spiritual upliftment with the chants and
rituals.
Participating in this majestic
celebration of the presence of River Ganges is one of the must visit
experiences in Varanasi city. The eternally spiritual can also be visited during
a Mahaparinirvan
Express – Buddhist Train Tour on the fourth day of the itinerary.
