16th and 21st March, 2014.
During this time I made an elaborate pilgrimage to go to three places in U. P. state thus making it a full triangle. Varanasi, Sarnath and Bodh Gaya. This dream was made possible after many years of deliberation, and it finally happened with the grace of God.
In Varanasi, there was too much to see and less time. Yet we saw the Arti, went to the Shiva temple, saw the famous Sunrise and also saw the house of Shri Lahiri Mahasaya in the thin streets of overcrowded Kashi.
At night, I got an inspiration to go to Ma Anandmayi’s Ashram also. Paid my respects and homage to her. The inmates and sanyassins were very cordial and co-operative and even allowed us to take pictures and showed us all around. Some pictures will be uploaded in next post.
There will be 2 posts on Varanasi, 1 of Sarnath and Bodh Gaya each making it total of 4. The posts are coming in a slow pace because many new children are learning more on FaceBook and are deriving more benefit because the posts of the blog are quite difficult for them. Short posts are serving them a good and effective purpose on the social site.
Your queries and further guidance are also taking place side by side. Hence the photo gallery of the last trip has taken so much time to deliver.
The trip was very much gratifying and I decided to do the photo gallery with all my interest and enthusiasm. I am sure you will like these photos and if you ever make a visit to these places, they will give you ample help and guidance. With these thoughts I wish to take you on a virtual trip to these very ancient sacred sites. Hope you all will enjoy seeing our old heritage, culture and customs passed on from one generation to another since centuries. There was surely some magic and pull in these places, more so in Varanasi and Bodh Gaya.
I quickly posted a few small albums on Face book on these three places once I returned some weeks back in order to stay in touch with you all. These are the links of Facebook. You may like to see some other pictures as well I think.
Varanasi
People from all over India flock here to visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple and to see the very famous worshiping of the sacred river Ganga at the banks or Ghats in the evening with lamps and frankincense called Aarti.
Foreigners from all over the world take great pains to come and appreciate India’s ancient heritage, religion and culture. The tourist attraction is mainly Manikarnika Ghat.
Going towards Dashashwamedh Ghat
We reach the ghat, river bank
Preparations in full swing for the Aarti
The Sun sets and hundreds of people feel relieved that their wait is over, including us. Before the Aarti starts, we take a long boat ride for an hour to see all the famous ghats.
Devotees float floating lamps with flowers to Mother Ganga to mark respect and some to fulfill boons.
Mystic touch added to Ganga with shining waters and a full moon night.
Dashaswamedh ghat is completely transformed into festivities and lights, thus compensating the long wait!
Thank you mom 🙂
Feeling blessed and grateful today to be under the cooling, divine shade of this sacred blog on this journey of life.
Hello Aunty,
Very nice and vivid photographs.
It reminded me of my own trip to Varanasi.
Thank you.
Regards,
Shilpa
“At night, I got an inspiration to go to Ma Anandmayi’s Ashram also” 🙂 _/\_
Beautiful Photographs. I traveled down the memory lane of my own trip to his holy place where I too went to the doors of Lahiri Mahasaya’s house and also went to Anandimayi Ma’s ashram.
Its a pleasure to read and discover mahima of a place even after one has already visited the place in the past.