Varanasi's Sacred Ghats: Where Fire Meets the Divine

Among the city's 80+ riverfront staircases, three legendary ghats stand out:1️⃣ Dashashwamedh Ghat - The spectacular main stage for Ganga Aarti2️⃣ Manikarnika Ghat - The eternal cremation grounds (24/7 funeral pyres)3️⃣ Assi Ghat - Where pilgrims complete the Panchkoshi Parikrama circuit 🔥 Rituals of Fire & Faith At Assi Ghat, I immersed myself thrice:Dawn: Bathed in the Ganges facing the rising sun ☀️Noon: Watched puja offerings drift downstream Night: Joined the fire ceremony where:Flames leap skyward carrying prayers to the gods Priests chant ancient Vedic hymns Conch shells blast across the river 🧭 Pre-Dawn Pilgrimage My 4AM journey to the ghats revealed:Ghostly alleyways lit by sporadic oil lampsSilent chai stalls just beginning to stir The first bathers - widows performing predawn rituals #Varanasi#Dashashwamedh Ghat #india#india guide# travel diary#Manikarnika Ghat# Assi Ghat