Culture, City and Crafts of Varanasi
Varanasi is one of the old and holy cities situated in the banks of the river Ganga for about three thousand years of history and civilization. The place has got other names like Kashi and Benaras or Banaras. Varanasi is described in several poetic adjectives like “The city of temples”, “The holy city of India”, “The religious capital of India”, “The city of learning” and “The cultural capital of India”. The name of the city Varanasi derived by two holy tributary rivers flowing into the River Ganga “Assi” and “Varuna”. Ganga River and their Ghats are one of the prominent must visit places in Varanasi; it is a stretch about 2.5 miles. It is the land of spirituality and origins of many religions, dharma and movements like Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, Bhakti Movement and many more. It is been told that Lord Shiva found and resided in the Varanasi city, thus in “Mahabharat” pandavas went to Kashi in search of Lord Shiva to atone the sins committed in the War of Kurukshetra. Varanasi has one of the famous twelve Jyotirlinga Visvanatha temples at the banks of the River Ganga. It is one of the seven holiest cities in India. Varanasi is the co-existing city of the past and present, eternity and continuousness. Shaivism and Vaishnaviam have cohabited in Varanasi cordially. It is also a place where Buddha first preached his sermon after enlightenment. Ayurveda is originated from Varanasi and has constructed a strong base for the modern medical sciences. Many philosophers and great personalities like Gautama Buddha, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Munshi Premchand, Ramanuja, Ravidas, Tulsi Das, Mahavira, Kabir, Patanjali, Rajan-Sajan Mishra and Jhansi Rani Lakshmi Bai took birth in this beautiful city.
Varanasi is one of the old luminous cities, which is also a successful industrial city, a place of knowledge, philosophy, education, culture, music and Indian traditional arts and crafts. Industries in fine silks, silver and gold is said to be famous and renowned in their unique and purity in work.
