The wind near the Ganga was cool and special today. There was a crowd, but no noise. There was a smell, but not of dust—of incense, flowers, and holy water. The boy and Pandit Ramcharan were now at the heart of all the ghats—Dashashwamedh Ghat.
> "Son," Pandit ji said, "today you stand where even gods come to take a step."
The Story and Importance of the Ghat
> "This ghat is called 'Dashashwamedh' because Lord Brahma did ten Ashwamedh Yagyas here," Pandit ji explained.
"These were no ordinary prayers—they were powerful enough to call the gods to Earth."
> "Kings have meditated on these very steps. And every morning, people come here to take a dip in the Ganga, hoping for salvation."
The boy looked at the river—not as just water, but as a living mother.
> "In Kashi, even after the body dies, the soul doesn't wander," said Pandit ji.
"Dashashwamedh Ghat is the staircase for that soul."
The Magic of the Evening Aarti
As evening came, the ghat began to change. Priests were getting ready. Diyas (lamps) were placed in rows. The sound of conch shells filled the air, and the ghat turned into a temple.
The flames danced on the surface of the Ganga. Mantras echoed through the sky. Seven priests moved in perfect rhythm. Hundreds of people watched silently, with emotion in their eyes.
The boy quietly stared, deeply moved.
> "This wasn't just a prayer.
It was a language of the soul.
This was Banaras—just as it's meant to be."
The Life Around the Ghat
This ghat is not just a holy site.
Poets sit here, artists paint, children sell toys, and boatmen share stories.
Here, death visits daily—and life laughs every evening.
> "This ghat isn't just a place of worship," said Pandit ji,
"It is the heartbeat of Kashi. Here, emotion burns brighter than fire."
End Is Just the Beginning
As they walked back, the boy asked—
> "Pandit ji, is every ghat this special?"
> "Every ghat tells a story," he smiled,
"But Dashashwamedh Ghat... is the introduction to the story of Banaras."
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