Hello lovely people😊
How are you all?
I hope you're all doing well ❤️🩹
In our last blog, we decided to embark on a boat ride and visit the Kashi Vishwanath temple tomorrow morning, aiming for fewer crowds.
After contemplating for 5 to 10 minutes, we opted for smaller boats due to budget constraints as college students. Our route was from Manikarnika Ghat to Assi Ghat.
I took this picture while sitting in the boat🚢
The weather was perfect for boating, with life jackets on, we set out. Birds flocked above the river, creating a calming atmosphere despite the sun overhead.
The ghats looked like paintings from a canvas, especially from the boat. The monuments were magnificent, with large stairs and boats lining the Ganga river. Experiencing the ghats from a boat ride truly enhances their beauty.
While exploring Jain Ghat, I couldn't help but appreciate the symbols of Swastika and Om, representing good fortune and the ultimate truth, respectively. A quote at the bottom of the Swastika, "अहिंसा परमो धर्म," from the Mahabharata, emphasizes non-violence as our topmost duty.
One grand and royal-looking boat left me astonished.
Our boat ride concluded at Assi Ghat. On the way back to our hotel, we encountered faded street art, possibly advocating for environmental conservation.
After an hour of rest, we set out to witness the Ganga Arti, followed by a delightful dinner. Along the way, we stumbled upon captivating street art portraying different ghats and surrounding structures. The boats adorning the ghats added an extra touch of charm to the scene.
The Ganga is our sacred river, flowing through many religious places. Along its banks, priests conduct morning and evening prayers. When visiting such a spiritual site, it's a must to witness the prayers dedicated to Maa Ganga. The experience left me feeling surreal by the end of the Ganga Arti. It was so captivating that I yearn to witness it again, this time with my family. Watching the Ganga Arti on the ghat is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that everyone should have.
I encountered a little girl named Pari, who was selling diyas for the prayer ceremony by the river. At just 8 years old, she approached me, urging me to buy a diya. Initially unsure, I let her go, but later she stood beside me throughout the entire prayer ceremony. Touched by her presence and wanting to commemorate the moment, I decided to purchase a diya from her. Despite my fatigue from exploring, she managed to bring a smile to my face, prompting me to capture the moment with a selfie.
Dinner was at a delightful restaurant, and we retired early, gearing up for an early visit to Kashi Vishwanath temple at 6 a.m.
That wraps up today's blog.
Stay tuned for the final installment of my Varanasi trip.
These photos are clicked by me by my phone realme gt me 📸
Thank you for reading, your support means the world to me🫶🏻
Sending you all a warm hug🤗
Lots of love from me💖
Feel free to explore my latest two Varanasi trip blogs.
" Varanasi diaries: Boats, Ghats, and Beyond"🌈
Varanasi unvieled: A first-Time spontaneous Traveler's Tale🧡