BENARAS CRUISE
Cruising along the Ganga at Banaras is at once a spiritual journey and one that offers the beautiful shimmering reflections of a medley of multi-coloured lights that play in the rippling waters. The Uttar Pradesh Tourism launch M.V. Sam Manekshaw glides softly upstream
Manikarnika cremation ghat of eternal pyres 
Ganga Arati 
Sunset at Malaviya Bridge
starting from NAMO Ghat, among the latest to the added to the
famed 84 Ghats, sites on the left bank the Ganga for the holy dip and other
religious rituals. The cruise covers all the ghats from Ravidas Ghat to Raj
Ghat and can be booked online at – https://alaknandacruise.com/
The eternal
journey of life (and death) can be viewed from the launch. Vibrating life is
evident in the Ganga Aratis in which the river is worshipped as the source of
life for one of the world’s still living oldest civilizations. Priests blow conch
shells, chant sacred mantras and sing hymns accompanied by bells and swinging huge
brass torches. Thousands gather on the steps surrounding the Ghat or sit in
boats anchored on the river front to watch the proceedings with reverence.
But barely a
hundred yards downstream comes the reminder that life is not all song and dance
and the human journey is a mortal one. This is the Manikarnika Ghat where
cremations are carried out day and night. In fact, legend has it that the pyres
have burned there continuously for centuries without a break. Hindus believe
that though the body is cremated to return it to the elements, the soul attains
‘moksha’ or freedom from all earthly ties if the cremation in carried out in the
Kashi of Vishwanath who helps them along with the ‘Tarak Mantra.’
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