Irene Barlian

It was a misty morning and the Sun was nowhere to be seen, but the sound of temple bells and hymns resonant, repeating the mystical air around. The grandiose Ghats, the multipurpose, stone riverbank steps were breathing with people who came to offer sun salutation or aarti by the holy river, Ganga. As the air blows, the ripple of water scudded across the medieval landscape and drifted prayers into the divine.

Crowned with tradition, Varanasi is a preeminent spiritual city sits on the banks of Ganges River in Uttar Pradesh of Northern India. It is the Mecca of Hinduism and claimed to be Lord Shiva’s city. It is known by many names, Banaras, Kashi, and some also call it The City of Light.

Millions of pilgrims and devotees throng to cleanse away their sin by bathing in the sacred river. Others come to die beside it to achieve moksha, an eternal liberation from cycle of life and death.

Ganga is life. It has become symbol of faith, hope, and culture. The river flows from Rishikesh to Uttarkashi, stretching over 2,500 kilometers and supporting over 400 million people whose life are passed by it.

Referred as Goddess Ganga or Ma Ganga, the river has become the center of social and religious tradition in the Indian sub-continent and regarded as the holiest river by Hindus. [yan]