Celebrating India At Varanasi’s Ganga Mahotsav

From the hills and valleys of Jammu and Kashmir, to the roaring seas of Kanyakumari, India, the land of Yoga, Ayurveda and spirituality, has no dearth of places that can provide relief to both an exhausted body and mind. Somewhere in the thick of all this lies India’s religious, cultural and spiritual capital – Varanasi, also known as Benares or Kashi. Varanasi's Ganga Mahotsav is held every year – an occasion that celebrates India’s rich and thriving cultural heritage. 

What is the Ganga Mahotsav?

The Ganga Mahotsav is a unique festival organised not just to promote tourism in the city of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, but to also promote Indian culture, dance and music. Held on the busy banks of India’s holy River Ganges, it includes recitals of Indian classical music by some of the most revered and well known exponents in the country, beautiful evening aartis performed to the chants of Vedic hymns, the mesmerising Dev Deepavali ceremony and a handicrafts exhibition.

The Ganga Mahotsav has become an increasingly popular event attended by both domestic and international tourists. Visitors can expect to be awed by heart rending musical performances by the likes of Birju Maharaj, Pt Bhimsen Joshi, Girija Devi, Zakir Hussain and Pt Channulal Misra. Dance performances include Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Manipuri and folk acts. The many ghats of the Ganga are decorated with rows of diyas and candles and the traditional aarti is a spectacle to behold. The festival culminates in another beautiful ceremony – the Dev Deepavali during which hundreds of thousands of lit diyas are floated in the river. The adjoining Shilp Mela brings together craftsmen from more than 20 Indian states who showcase their craft. There are several other events during the festival including traditional sporting events such as wrestling, kite flying, boat races and horse cart races.

Five Temples and a Sacred River

While in Varanasi, it would be a shame not to visit its many beautiful temples. If you don’t have too much time at hand, make it a point to visit at least these five:

Kashi Vishwanath Temple: Ancient and rich, the temple boasts of towers, which were plated in gold by the incredibly rich Raja Ranjit Singh. The temple houses a small Shiva linga, which is kept on a silver altar. It is one of the most ancient and famous temples of Varanasi.

Sankat Mochan Temple: Another famous, and perhaps one of the most visited temples in Varanasi, this temple is dedicated to the monkey god Hanuman. It is therefore no wonder that it is home to hundreds of frolicking monkeys who love to accept tit bits from the endless flow of devotees. The temple is situated on the banks of river Assi and is believed to have been built by Tulsidas.

Annapurna Temple: This temple is dedicated to goddess Annapurna who represents food and prosperity. The temple is said to have two idols of the goddess – one carved in gold and the other in brass. The gold idol is only brought out on special occasions.

Manas Mandir: Dedicated to the famous poet Tulsidas who wrote the epic Ramcharitmanas, the temple is made of beautiful white marble and houses an idol of Lord Rama. The most beautiful parts of the temple are its landscaping and the lovely paintings depicting scenes from the epic.

New Kashi Vishwanath Temple: Located in the prestigious Benares Hindu University campus, this striking temple made completely of white marble was commissioned by one of India’s leading industrial families, the Birlas. The temple, a replica of the original, also houses a Shiva linga.

While on a spiritual tour you can also visit other popular places nearby such as Lucknow, Chunar, Jaunpur, Agra, and Bodh Gaya. Start planning your journey by logging on to MakeMyTrip.com to make your flight and hotel bookings now.