|
Varanasi
has nearly 100 ghats. Many are bathing ghats but at the others,
cremations are conducted. According to Hindu belief, dying at Kasi
ensures release from the eternal cycle of birth and rebirth.
Many
of these ghats, temples and serais were built when the Marathas
controlled the city and the Scindias, the Peshwas, Holkars and
Bhonsles stand out as patrons of present day Varanasi. Even today
many of the ghats are privately owned. The Shivala or Kali Ghat is
still owned by the former Maharaja of Varanasi.
The
main bathing ghats are Assi,
Dasaswamedh,
Barnasangam, Panchaganga
and Manikarnika. To bathe at these five ghats in this order in a day
is known as the panch thirtha yatra.
|
