Photos from Benares: Trip down the River Ganges/ Ganga

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Here are a series of Photos from a boat ride on the river Ganges, or Ganga as we call it, near the GHATS (embankments) of the Holy City of Benares/ Varanasi. Here you will see different activities being performed at these ghats from playoing cricket to doing meditation to burning of the dead.

"Varanasi - Benares - Kaasi is considered to be the holiest of all pilgrimage sites in India. It is considered home to Shiva - Visweswara. Benares is also known as Kaasi because it is beleived that Supreme brilliance shines there, and lights the way to salvation (Kas - to shine). Varanasi is located between two rivers Varana and Asi, and hence the name Varanasi. " Read more

"Varanasi or Kashi is older than traditions. Varanasi presents a unique combination of physical, metaphysical and supernatural elements. According to the Hindu mythology, Varanasi liberates soul from human body to the ultimate. It is the Ganga Ghats of Varanasi that complement the concept of divinity. Ghats of Ganga are perhaps the holiest spots of Varanasi. The Ganga Ghats at Varanasi are full of pilgrims who flock to the place to take a dip in the holy Ganges, which is believed to absolve one from all sins. " Read more.

"Varanasi, Kashi or Banaras, is older than traditions. The divine grace of this city lies is unique combination of physical, metaphysical and supernatural elements. Ghats of Varanasi are natural supplement to the concept of divinity. It is a city witch liberate soul from human body to ultimate" If you want to know the history of each ghat read here.


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KERALA - God's Own Country in India

NOTICE: These photos are not taken by me. These are highly Professional Photos taken by someone who knows the place and has taken pains to go around searching for the right moment, light and angles. I do not know who have taken these. These came to me by email the same way get so many emails like this. And these photos depict the Real Kerala as it is. I myself would have liked to capture all these moments myself and will probably do so too in near future. Because after seeing these photos I must go there soon is what I feel. And since I want the world to see Kerala's thrills and charms I though I will post them here in my blog. Hope the photographer will not mind and he or she will also come here and add his name here. I am only sharing what he has seen. I just could not resist the temptation!!!!! These are like WOW!!!!!

1. Kannur, Kannur District 2. Uru (big boat)-Bepur, Calicut dist.

3. Bekal, Kasargod District 4. Silent Valley, Palakkad District

Thrissur Pooram –Thrissur dist.

Aaanayoottu ( = Feeding Elephant), Thrissur dist

AthiraPally WaterFalls, Chalakudy, Thrissur dist. This is a hotspot where lots of movie songs were shot (Eg: Jiya Jale in Dil Se). It is actually a HUGE waterfall (from these pics u can't actually figure out how big it is). These pics were taken during monsoon. (Pl See notice above)

Backwaters, Kochi, Ernakulam dist.

Idukki dist.

Idukki Arch Dam - Asia's largest Earthen Dam and India's second arch dam......... You really have to be there to experience how LARGE it is. If this damn is broken, (GOD forbid) 4 district in Kerala will be washed off !!!!

Thekkady wildlife sanctuary, Idukki.........

Backwaters, Allappuzha dist. & Champakkulam Boat Race, Alappuzha

Aaranmula Boat Race...............

Kumarakom Lake , Kottayam dist.

Kumarakam Resort, Kottayam

Ponmudi – Trivandrum dist. Veli lake – Trivandrum

Kovalam Beach ,Trivandrum -- This is one picture I did not find attractive-- Goa seems to be much moree Idyllic and beautiful as far as beaches go in India. I have a photo of my own here in this site.

Kavadiar Palace -Trivandrum KaniKonna.. a flower tree

Jack Fruit Tree A Fishing View

Election Campaign Ending in Kerala.............. Thechi or Chetthy

Art Forms of Kerala........... ThiruvonaThoni............... during Onam

Flower carpet competition…. During Onam & Maramadi …. Bull Racing

Story of Ganga

The story of Ganga is interrelated to the story of Benares because here lies the holy temple of Baba Vishwanath (Father, he who protects the world). The story of Benares will be told in my next post. In the photos you can see the first of the Ghats or the man built embankments where you can see various activities from playing of cricket to burning of the dead. Next post.

Sagara, a legendary king of Ayodhya had no children . He performed long and ardous penances as a result of which he was promised with the birth of 60,000 children. he did get these sons and when they grew up, king Sagara resolved to perform the Ashwamedh Yajna. Indra, the lord of heavens was alarmed and he feared that Sagara would become very strong and dethrone him.

Indra descended to the earth and stealthily carried away the horse , and he placed it in patal (the subterranean region) just near the place where the famous sage Kapila was sitting in deep meditation. The 60,000 sons of Sagara, after searching the horse all over the earth, dug a hole and reached patal. There they found the horse standing near a sage who was sitting with eyes closed in meditation. They thought he was the thief and began beaing him. sage Kapila, who awoke from his meditation, in his anger reduced all the princes to ashes.

The wandering sage Narada informed Sagara about the fate of his sons. King Sagara prayed to sage Kapila for relief, who advised that if he could somehow bring the goddess Ganga form heavens to the earth and if the ashes were washed with her water, their salvation would be possible. sagara gave the throne to his single surviving son and went to forest for prayers but perished in his efforts. So also his son, who too sacrificed his life as a penance after giving throne to his son Dalip.

For many years, no issue was born to Dalip from any of his two wives. Later with god Shiva's blessings he did get a son named Bhagiratha who was deformed. When this boy became young a sage blessed him and he turned into a healthy and handsome prince. Bhagiratha now addressed prayers regularly to different gods for the restoration of his 60,000 relatives suffering on account of a curse. he performed severe penance earnestly for a very long time. Both god Shiva and goddess Ganga were ultimately propitiated.

As Ganga had to fall from heaven to earth , Bhagiratha feared that the earth will be crushed by her fall. So Ganga swept down in three great instalments and Shiva standing on the Himalaya, caught Ganga in his matted hair to mitigate the impact. At length Shiva allowed a part of Ganga to fall on earth and Bhagiratha blowing the conch given to him bygod Vishnu led Ganga to seas. later she was taken to patal and so all the 60,000 sons of Sagara were purified.

Source: Gods And Goddesses Of India
Published By: http://www.diamondpocketbooks.com/
Sourced from http://spirituality.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/articleshow?artid=12160095

Views from Mussoorie 2 of 2: Sightseeing

This is the blog continued from here. Here you will see the sights of Mussoorie's hills and natural beauty. The photos below here have been taken on the road to Dhanolti. a sightseeing place in between Mussoorie and Chamba (Tehri Dam- not to be confused with Chamba of Himachal Pradesh). Here you will see Pine trees and in the distant you can see Gangotri Glacier- those snow covered mountains- from where River Ganges originate. For the mythological tale of Ganga read here. And you can read here for some details of Gangotri. [For some photos of Gangotri, not mine you can visit here.]. For some more information about river ganges you can visit here. For some more information on holy places in Uttaranchal where Mussoorie is you can visit here.

Fantastic view.

Some shops where you can buy something to eat (Not for Foreigners- I guess unless you are already tuned to Indian Foods on the roadside.