Subahe Banaras at Assi GhatSubahe Banaras at Assi Ghat

Today is March 01, 2015 (Sunday). Time 5.30 a.m. location Assi Ghat

There is mild breeze in the air. The ghats are still under the sleepy silence. People started coming to Assi Ghat to experience the Subah Banaras i.e Morning Banaras.

With a slight change in the regular days, the Ghat is occupied by tourists as well as local people. An announcement is audible with a caution to take seats and keep silence.

Its 5.45 a.m. The girl students from Panini Kany Vidyalayay, Varanasi, in yellow sarees are ready to chant the Sanskrit mantras in a rhythmic way. The panditjis who perform aarti is ready and is facing the river Ganges with folded hands. The silent air echoes the prayers and everyone is deep in the heights of spiritual sphere. After the end of the chants, the girls move to Yag

ya area where they started the yagya while the morning aarti takes place. The sky is slowly clear now and the breeze is bit stronger.

The fire in the yagya and the aarti both touch the minds and souls of all gathered there and lead the audience to experience something very different that none had ever experienced.

It is 6.15a.m. The end of the yagya and aarti, people are lining up in both side to offer Pushpanjali. Every one offers a pinch of flower petals as an expression of solidarity to the Ganges.

All audience now turn their chairs towards the stage, where the classical music is performed by various singers.

Morning Aarti is an expression of respect to Sun (Bhaskar or Morning Sun), river Ganges and the Four Directions- North, South East and West.

The visitors are enthralled by mind and body to experience the divine confluence of morning sun’s race touch the Maa Ganga, and the day starts with fresh energy with positive thoughts.  As the Sun’s rays charge ourselves with energy, the mantras, rituals in the form of aarti and the classical music is a cherishing experience not only to the visitors from India and abroad, but also to the local people of Varanasi.

The idea of Subahe Banaras at Assi Ghat was conceptualized by Sri Ratnesh Verma, District Cultural Officer and Sri Pranjal Yadav IAS, The District Magistrate of Varanasi.

If you are in Varanasi, don’t miss the chance to liberate yourself from the sleepy burden of thoughts and morning sickness to a fresh day with lot of energy and freshness.