THE BURNING GHATS OF VARANASI
In Hinduism, there are four stages in a person’s life – known as Ashramas, these four stages are - Brahmacharya (student), Grihastha (householder), Vanaprastha (retired) and Sannyasa (renunciate).
The Ashrama system is one facet of the Dharma concept in Hinduism.
In olden days once a person was ready to take up sannyasa, he left his home and went to Kashi - today’s Varanasi – the Home of Shiva, the destroyer God of Hindus. And never came back.
A ghat is a set of steps on the bank of a river leading down to the river. The Ghats of Varanasi have a special place in the heart of a Hindu. It is considered one of the auspicious locations to do cremation. According to Hindu philosophy, Sanskaras are the diverse rites of passage of a human being from the time of conception to cremation, signifying the milestones in an individual’s journey in life. And it’s every Hindus wish to be cleansed in the waters of Holy Ganges and cremated at the Ghats of Varanasi with the sacred eternal fire and have their ashes dispersed in the sacred waters of Ganges.
There are 88 Ghats in Varanasi. But few are dedicated to the cremation ritual – like Manikarnika Ghat and Harishchandra Ghat.
