Dashashwamedh Ghat

Dashashwamedha ghat on the Ganges, Varanasi

Dashashwamedh Ghat (Hindi: दशाश्वमेध घाट) is the main ghat in Varanasi on the Ganges 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]

Close to the ghat, overlooking the Ganges lies the Jantar Mantar, an observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh of Jaipur in the year 1737.^[2]

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.

A group of priests daily in the evening at this ghat perform "Agni Pooja" (Worship to Fire) wherein a dedication is made to Lord Shiva, River Ganga (the Ganges), Surya (Sun), Agni (Fire), and the whole universe. Special aartis are held on Tuesdays and on religious festivals.

Stages in the aarti ceremony

Preparation for incense aarti of Ganges, Varanasi Ghats.
Ganga aarti at Varanasi.
Ganga Aarti with incense at Varanasi ghats.
Evening Ganga aarti with incense at Ganga ghat, Varanasi.
Incense aarti at Dashaswamedh ghat, Varanasi.
Incense smoke Aarti, Ganges, Varanasi.
Lamps in preparation for evening Aarti
Multi-tiered aarti stand being lit, for Ganga Aarti.
Evening Ganges aarti lamp held aloft, Varanasi.
Aarti raised up during evening Ganga aarti, Varanasi.
Evening Ganga Aarti, at Dashashwamedh ghat, Varanasi.
Evening Aarti, at Dashashwamedh ghat
Aarti singers during evening Ganga aarti, at neighbouring Sitala ghat.

2010 terrorist bombing

Main article: 2010 Varanasi 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.^[3]^[4]

References

↑ Dasasvamedha Ghat Varanasi official website.
↑ Jantar Mantar Hardwick University..
↑ "Terror strikes Varanasi: 1 killed". Zee News. December 8, 2010.
↑ "Varanasi blast triggers a blame game". India Today. December 9, 2010.

Varanasi

History

Intentionally left blank for sometime

Administrative
division

Amara Khaira Chak, Benipur, Bhagawanpur, Birbhanpur, Dindaspur, Gangapur, Harpal Pur, Kakarmatta, Kandwa, Kotwa, Lohta, Maruadih, Phulwaria, Ramnagar, Salarpur, Shivdaspur, Sir Gobardhan, Susuwahi, Suzabad, Umarha, Varanasi, Varanasi cantt.

Villages

Villages in Varanasi district

Pindra Tehsil	A Adhkatiya Kala Khas Aharak Ahiran Ahirani Ajaipur Akorha Amaut Auraon Ausanpur Azoarepur B Babatpur Babhanpura Bachaura Badhauna Baghaita Baharipur Baliakheri Basni C Chadpur D Dabethuwa Deorai E Eshipur G Gang Khurd J Janakpatti Jayapur K Kathiraon Khalispur Khanzadipur Kudi L Lamhi M Mehdiganj Murdi P Phoolpur R Raghunathpur Rajpur S Sir Gobardhan T Tisaura V Vyaspur Z Zafarabad

Varanasi Tehsil	A Adampur Airla Aitha Akhari Amara Khaira Chak Anantpur Araji Line B Benipur Bhagawanpur Birbhanpur D Dindaspur G Gangapur H Harpal Pur S Salarpur Susuwahi U Umarha

India : Uttar Pradesh : Varanasi

Languages &
Dialects spoken

Political
representation

MP	Narendra Modi (Incumbent Prime Minister of India)

MLA	Ajay Rai Jyotsana Srivastava Mahendra Singh Patel Ravindra Jaiswal Shyamdev Roy Chaudhari (Dada) Surendra Singh Patel Tribhuvan Ram Uday Lal Maurya

Constituency

Lok Sabha	Varanasi

Vidhan Sabha	Ajagara Pindra Rohaniya Sevapuri Shivpur Varanasi Cantt. Varanasi North Varanasi South

Transportation

Air	Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport

Rail	Babatpur railway station Bhulanpur railway station Kashi railway station Maruadih railway station Varanasi Cantt. railway station Varanasi City railway station

Road	Grand Trunk Road

Education

Universities	Benaras Hindu University Central University for Tibetan Studies Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith Sampurnanand Sanskrit University

Medical colleges	Faculty of Ayurveda Institute of Medical Sciences

Colleges	Arya Mahila Mahavidyalaya DAV Post Graduate College Faculty of Arts Faculty of Commerce Faculty of Science Faculty of Social Sciences Harish Chandra Postgraduate College Mahila Maha Vidyalaya SMS Sri Agrasen Kanya P.G. College Subhash Chandra Mahavidyalaya Sunbeam College for Women Udai Pratap Autonomous College Vasant Kanya Mahavidyalaya Vasanta College for Women

CBSE schools	Central Hindu Boys School Central Hindu Girls School Delhi Public School Guru Nanak English School Raj English School Sant Atulanand Convent School

UP board schools	C.M. Anglo Bengali College

ICSE schools	St Joseph's Convent School St.John's School,Varanasi W. H. Smith Memorial School

Places of
worship

Buddhist temples	Sarnath

Churches	Blank

Hindu temples

Aghori	Baba Keenaram Sthal

Bharat Mata	Bharat Mata Mandir

Durga or her Avatar	Durga Mandir Sankata Devi Mandir

Hanuman	Sankat Mochan Mandir

Parvati or her Avatar	Annapurna Devi Mandir Lalita Gauri Mandir Vishalakshi Temple

Shiva or his Avatar	Kaal Bhairav Mandir Kashi Vishwanath Temple Mrityunjay Mahadev Mandir Nepali Mandir New Vishwanath Mandir (Birla Mandir) Shri Tilbhandeshwar Mahadev Mandir

Others	Tulsi Manas Mandir

Mosques	Gyanvapi Mosque

Ravidasis	Shri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan

Sir Sunderlal Hospital

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dashashwamedh Ghat.

Ghats of Varanasi, webpage at Varanasi official website.

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