Varanasi, ganga aarti - a photo on Flickriver

Varanasi, ganga aarti

Varanasi, ganga aarti

Varanasi (also known as Benares, Banaras, or Kashi), is a North Indian city on the banks of the Ganges river in Uttar Pradesh, India. Varanasi is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The spiritual capital of India, it is the holiest of the seven sacred cities (Sapta Puri) in Hinduism and Jainism, and played an important role in the development of Buddhism.

Buddha is believed to have founded Buddhism here around 528 BC when he gave his first sermon, "The Setting in Motion of the Wheel of Dharma", at nearby Sarnath. The city's religious importance continued to grow in the 8th century, when Adi Shankara established the worship of Shiva as an official sect of Varanasi. Despite the Muslim rule, Varanasi remained the centre of activity for Hindu intellectuals and theologians during the Middle Ages, which further contributed to its reputation as a cultural centre of religion and education. In the 16th century, Varanasi experienced a cultural revival under the Muslim Mughal emperor Akbar who invested in the city, and built two large temples dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu, though much of modern Varanasi was built during the 18th century, by the Maratha and Bhumihar kings. The kingdom of Benares was given official status by the Mughals in 1737, and continued as a dynasty-governed area until Indian independence in 1947.

Varanasi has been a cultural centre of North India for several thousand years, and is closely associated with the Ganges. Hindus believe that death in the city will bring salvation, making it a major centre for pilgrimage. The city is known worldwide for its many ghats, embankments made in steps of stone slabs along the river bank where pilgrims perform ritual ablutions. Of particular note are the Dashashwamedh Ghat, the Manikarnika Ghat, the Panchganga Ghat, and the Harishchandra Ghat, where Hindus cremate their dead.

Aarti also spelled arati, arathi, aarthi (from the Sanskrit word aratrika with the same meaning) is a Hindu religious ritual of worship, a part of puja, in which light from wicks soaked in ghee (purified butter) or camphor is offered to one or more deities. Aartis also refer to the songs sung in praise of the deity, when lamps are being offered.

(sources: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varanasi and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aarti)

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Taken in: India / Uttar Pradesh / Varanasi / Godoliya (show map)

Taken on: December 23, 2008

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Varanasi

ganga aarti

India

Uttar Pradesh

2008

Benares

Banaras

Kashi

Ganges river

Ganga

spiritual capital

Sapta Puri

Hinduism

Jainism

Buddhism

worship of Shiva

Shiva

salvation

pilgrimage

aarti

arati

arathi

aarthi

religious ritual

ritual

worship

puja

offering

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Sets appears in: • Public • India 2008 best more » • 2008 • India « less

Camera: Canon EOS 450D, f/5.0, 1/30 sec, 35mm, ISO 800 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 450D
Aperture:	f/5.0
Exposure Time:	0.033 sec (1/30)
Focal Length:	35mm
ISO:	800
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Not Defined
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Picasa 3.0
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