HiveComb

After hectic last few days, exploring different places, culture, tradition and lifestyle, todays I am travelling back to my home. Another ride on train, is going to be resting day and I am preferring to sleep rather than enjoying the long ride. The last 10 days was all about exploring the different life and full of adventure. I have many things to uncover from my travel, but for the #wednesdaywalk, I prefer to share my walk about yesterday from the Ghats of Varanasi celebrating "Chatth festival". rather than sharing the usual train stories.

Varanasi is is a popular travel destination in India. It is famous for old streets, Ganga Ghats, street food and all important Kashi Vishwanath temple of Lord Shiva. Celebrating the Chatth festival, brings a news aspect of life. I never been to Varanasi for the festival. But a friend called me up to join him for the festival, so it was a last minute schedule added on my travelling list. And at the end it turned out to be a nostalgic experience.

Chathh festival is quite a popular Indian festival celebrated in the state of Uttar Pradesh , Bihar , Jharkhand and parts of Bengal. Gradually, the festival is getting popular in another state. The festival is dedicated to the sun god, Surya, and Chhathi Maiya, honoring the sun as the source of life and energy. Devotees observe strict fasting, including abstaining from drinking water for extended periods, and stand in water to perform rituals, symbolizing surrender and inner cleansing. As part of rituals, the devotees have to offer "argh to the rising Sun and this makes the Varanasi Ghats a much crowded places.

I was there at the Dashashwamedh Ghat to celebrate the festival. This is the first time I was attending the festival in Varanasi. So the excitement to enjoy the festival was on a different level. I woke up at 3 AM to reach the place. Devotees wanted to visit early to secure their early position at the ghats. Many were already been the Ghats the entire waiting for the sun to rise. When I reached there, it was already too crowded. I was unable to track my friends family, who were there somewhere in the Ghats. The Ghats has becomes quite chaotic and only people in different color were seen. The ghat turned quite colorful. There were security personal, there were continuous announcement from the police, the boats were at the banks the people were requested not to go deep in water to avoid any mishappening. It was well organized events. Unable to find my friends, I prefer to click pictures. People were seen jostling in the crowd to make their way to Ghats. It was chaotic but enough to enjoy life and see the cultural values. Here are the more picture I snapped from the event.

As soon as the Sun come out from behind the clouds, the whole places erupted with sounds of har har mahadev. It was an wonderful experience and euphoria of a next level. Never felt such an atmosphere ever before.

It was an unique festival experience. Even though the places was so crowded, not even a single accident. The management was good and the people co-operate with each other. They all know that everyone was there to celebrate and they wanted to help and support each other. There is brotherhood, and love everywhere. I enjoyed the atmosphere by being on the Ghats of Ganga for the festival. Something I will cherish rest of my life. The place was buzzing but it was a pure bliss a perfect place to see life, people and devotion of people.

In good faith - Peace!!

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