Dashashwamedh Ghat

Dashashwamedh Ghat
Geography
Coordinates 25°18′25.808″N 83°0′37.211″E / 25.30716889°N 83.01033639°E / 25.30716889; 83.01033639Coordinates: 25°18′25.808″N 83°0′37.211″E / 25.30716889°N 83.01033639°E / 25.30716889; 83.01033639
Country India

Dashashwamedha ghat on the Ganga, Varanasi

Dashashwamedh Ghat is the main ghat in Varanasi on the Ganga River. It is located close to Vishwanath Temple and is probably the most spectacular ghat. Two Hindu legends are associated with it: According to one, Lord Brahma created it to welcome Lord Shiva. According to another legend, Lord Brahma sacrificed ten horses during Dasa-Ashwamedha yajna performed here.[1]

The present ghat was built by Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao in the year 1748. A few decades later, Ahilyabahi Holkar, the Queen of Indore rebuilt the ghat in the year 1774.[2] Close to the ghat, overlooking the Ganga lies the Jantar Mantar, an observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh of Jaipur in the year 1737.[3]

Ganga aarti

Idol of "Ganga Maata" (Goddess Ganges) at Dashashwamedh Ghat.
Evening Ganga Aarti, at Dashashwamedh ghat, Varanasi
Singer reciting prayer during Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat.

Ganga aarti (ritual of offering prayer to the Ganges river) is held daily at dusk. Several priests perform this ritual by carrying deepam and moving it up and down in a rhythmic tune of bhajans.[4] Special aartis are held on Tuesdays and on religious festivals.

2010 terrorist bombing

On 7 December 2010 a low-intensity blast rocked the southern end of the aarti at the Sitla Ghat. This killed 2 people and injured 37 including 6 foreign tourists, and the Indian Mujahideen claimed responsibility for it.[5][6]

References

  1. ↑ Dasasvamedha Ghat Varanasi official website.
  2. ↑ "PLACES TO VISIT IN VARANASI". www.mcpr-bhu.org. Retrieved 2018-02-11.
  3. ↑ Jantar Mantar Hardwick University.
  4. ↑ Shradha Banavalikar (20 December 2017). Roots of Moondust: When Struggle Wears a Different Hat, Look at it in the Eye!. Notion Press. pp. 73–. ISBN 978-1-948321-29-7.
  5. ↑ "Terror strikes Varanasi: 1 killed". Zee News. 8 December 2010.
  6. ↑ "Varanasi blast triggers a blame game". India Today. 9 December 2010.
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