My husband is a proud alumnus of Banaras Hindu University, and after all this time being together we finally visited his alma mater during our recent trip there. It was a spectacular campus by any standards, even mine!
But that wasn’t the only highlight of our trip to Varanasi. Here are 11 more (in no particular order):
- Meeting my college friend for the first time since 2003. He took a dip in the Ganges!
- Attending arti in Kashi Vishwanath temple (pictures above) on New Year’s Eve after 20 minutes of being hassled and unsure if the authorities would allow me inside. Hearing the feverish chants and witnessing a timeless sacred ritual.
- Getting hypnotized by the funeral pyres at Manikarnika Ghat–not morbid, but profound…
- Walking along the ghats before sunrise, though I was surprised to see so few people meditating or doing yoga as per my preconceptions.
- Getting lost inside the winding alleys and stopping inside a general store that was 100 years old.
- Seeing the Ganga Arti brought tears to my eyes! It was performed so gracefully.
- Arriving just in time for arti at Durga temple & hearing a chant that was also sung at the Bhairavi consecration.
- Visiting Kal Bhairav temple on HIS DAY (Sunday), despite the crowd. [below]
- Meditating inside Lahiri Mahasaya’s house. He is the guru of the author of “Autobiography of a Yogi,” Yogananda Parmahamsa.
- Peeking into all the little roadside temples.
- Meditating in the same place the Buddha did in Sarnath.
I can definitely say it was spiritually recharging!
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