VARANASI: THE 7 THINGS YOU MUST DO IN VARANASI
1-Try the paan
The paan is a preparation based on betel leaves and nuts, a climbing plant very common in Asia.
Maybe you do not know the name, but if you've been in India you've smelled it (I was convinced it was an essence) or you saw, especially in Varanasi, people on the street (only men I would say, but I could be wrong) that chews and spits a reddish liquid.
The paan is a bit 'all over India, but the one of Varanasi is famous throughout the subcontinent and therefore nothing better, to enter fully into the citizenship, than buy one just made (much better than the dried version available in sachets, which you will find everywhere) near the Main Ghat, the main staircase that descends towards the Ganges.
2-Attending the Ganga Aarti
Every day at 6:45 pm, at the Main Ghat in Varanasi, the ritual of the Aarti is held, a puja (for the Hindus a puja is a worship ceremony of the deities or a generic ritual) with which the river is blessed and ends the day of the Gangaji goddess.
The Aarti of Varanasi is exciting and spectacular.
It begins with the sound produced by one of the pandas (so the Brahmins, that is, the Hindu priests) are called to Varanasi by blowing in a large shell. With the background of devotional songs, the Brahmins begin to move incense sticks and candelabra illuminated in a circular way, in a choreography that goes to the rhythm of hymns and cymbals.
The luminous effect that is created, in strong contrast with the night sky, is very suggestive.
Try to arrive as soon as possible to enjoy the show, the most confidence take place already at 17:00 to be able to admire this truly unique event.
3- Take a boat trip on the Ganges
Whether at dawn to see the sunrise, in the afternoon to go and explore the "Varanasi beach", that is the other side of the Ganges where you can enjoy a chai, or even in the evening to admire the Aarti from the river, every moment is good for a boat trip to Varanasi!
Let yourself be duped - but not too much - by whom, going through the Ghats, will try to stop you with a "Madam, boat?". Treat on the price, as is the case, but do not miss the marvellous atmosphere of the boat trip on the Ganges.
5-Lose yourself in the traffic of Godowlia
varanasi
Godowlia Crossing is one of the nerve centres of the city.
In India, as you may know, everyone uses the horn to crazily, but here you might even be surprised and find yourself on board a bicycle in the middle of an orchestra of bicycle bells, more particular and less annoying than the horn, but not less insistent!
6-Walk through the Ghats
The ghats, the platforms on the river, are the centre of Varanasi's life.
In addition to seeing the believers taken from their ablutions bathing in the sacred river, you could see just ... everything! Monkeys stealing from the chapati just made from a house, Santoni or presumed such intent to dispense their pearls of wisdom, beautiful multicoloured saris lying to dry in the sun or groups of kids playing cricket.
7-Go to kathak or tabla lesson
Varanasi is also the home of Banaras Gharana, a real school or musical style and dance.
If you have a passion for dance or would like to learn to play the tabla (a percussion instrument consisting of two drums, which is used in India in classical, religious and popular music), opportunities will not be missed!
What you see playing the tabla in the picture is my dance teacher Kathak, Mata Prasad Mishra, very well known in Varanasi, coming from a very active family in the art world
The paan is a preparation based on betel leaves and nuts, a climbing plant very common in Asia.
Maybe you do not know the name, but if you've been in India you've smelled it (I was convinced it was an essence) or you saw, especially in Varanasi, people on the street (only men I would say, but I could be wrong) that chews and spits a reddish liquid.
The paan is a bit 'all over India, but the one of Varanasi is famous throughout the subcontinent and therefore nothing better, to enter fully into the citizenship, than buy one just made (much better than the dried version available in sachets, which you will find everywhere) near the Main Ghat, the main staircase that descends towards the Ganges.
2-Attending the Ganga Aarti
Every day at 6:45 pm, at the Main Ghat in Varanasi, the ritual of the Aarti is held, a puja (for the Hindus a puja is a worship ceremony of the deities or a generic ritual) with which the river is blessed and ends the day of the Gangaji goddess.
The Aarti of Varanasi is exciting and spectacular.
It begins with the sound produced by one of the pandas (so the Brahmins, that is, the Hindu priests) are called to Varanasi by blowing in a large shell. With the background of devotional songs, the Brahmins begin to move incense sticks and candelabra illuminated in a circular way, in a choreography that goes to the rhythm of hymns and cymbals.
The luminous effect that is created, in strong contrast with the night sky, is very suggestive.
Try to arrive as soon as possible to enjoy the show, the most confidence take place already at 17:00 to be able to admire this truly unique event.
3- Take a boat trip on the Ganges
Whether at dawn to see the sunrise, in the afternoon to go and explore the "Varanasi beach", that is the other side of the Ganges where you can enjoy a chai, or even in the evening to admire the Aarti from the river, every moment is good for a boat trip to Varanasi!
Let yourself be duped - but not too much - by whom, going through the Ghats, will try to stop you with a "Madam, boat?". Treat on the price, as is the case, but do not miss the marvellous atmosphere of the boat trip on the Ganges.
5-Lose yourself in the traffic of Godowlia
varanasi
Godowlia Crossing is one of the nerve centres of the city.
In India, as you may know, everyone uses the horn to crazily, but here you might even be surprised and find yourself on board a bicycle in the middle of an orchestra of bicycle bells, more particular and less annoying than the horn, but not less insistent!
6-Walk through the Ghats
The ghats, the platforms on the river, are the centre of Varanasi's life.
In addition to seeing the believers taken from their ablutions bathing in the sacred river, you could see just ... everything! Monkeys stealing from the chapati just made from a house, Santoni or presumed such intent to dispense their pearls of wisdom, beautiful multicoloured saris lying to dry in the sun or groups of kids playing cricket.
7-Go to kathak or tabla lesson
Varanasi is also the home of Banaras Gharana, a real school or musical style and dance.
If you have a passion for dance or would like to learn to play the tabla (a percussion instrument consisting of two drums, which is used in India in classical, religious and popular music), opportunities will not be missed!
What you see playing the tabla in the picture is my dance teacher Kathak, Mata Prasad Mishra, very well known in Varanasi, coming from a very active family in the art world
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