Dashashwamedh Ghat

Dashashwamedha ghat on the Ganga, Varanasi

Dashashwamedh Ghat (Hindi: दशाश्वमेध घाट) is the main ghat in Varanasi on the Ganga River. It is located close to Vishwanath Temple and is probably the most spectacular ghat. Two Hindu legends are associated with it: According to one, Lord Brahma created it to welcome Lord Shiva. According to another legend, Lord Brahma sacrificed ten horses during Dasa-Ashwamedha yajna performed here.^[1]

Close to the ghat, overlooking the Ganga lies the Jantar Mantar, an observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh of Jaipur in the year 1737.^[2]

Ganga aarti

Idol of "Ganga Maata" (Goddess Ganges) at Dashashwamedh Ghat.

Evening Ganga Aarti, at Dashashwamedh ghat, Varanasi

Singer reciting prayer during Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat.

A group of priests daily in the evening at this ghat perform "Agni Pooja" (Worship to Fire) wherein a dedication is made to Lord Shiva, River Ganga (the Ganges), Surya (Sun), Agni (Fire), and the whole universe. Special aartis are held on Tuesdays and on religious festivals.

Stages in the aarti ceremony

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  Preparation for incense aarti of Ganges, Varanasi Ghats.
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  Ganga aarti at Varanasi.
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  Ganga Aarti with incense at Varanasi ghats.
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  Evening Ganga aarti with incense at Ganga ghat, Varanasi.
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  Incense aarti at Dashaswamedh ghat, Varanasi.
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  Incense smoke Aarti, Ganges, Varanasi.
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  Lamps in preparation for evening Aarti
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  Multi-tiered aarti stand being lit, for Ganga Aarti.
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  Evening Ganges aarti lamp held aloft, Varanasi.
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  Aarti raised up during evening Ganga aarti, Varanasi.
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  Evening Ganga Aarti, at Dashashwamedh ghat, Varanasi.
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  Evening Aarti, at Dashashwamedh ghat
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  Aarti singers during evening Ganga aarti, at neighbouring Sitala ghat.

2010 terrorist bombing

On 7 December 2010 a low-intensity blast rocked the southern end of the aarti at the Sitla Ghat. This killed 2 people and injured 37 including 6 foreign tourists, and the Indian Mujahideen claimed responsibility for it.^[3][4]

References

Varanasi
History	Intentionally left blank for sometime
Administrative division	Divisions Varanasi division Districts Varanasi district Tehsils Pindra, Varanasi Census towns Amara Khaira Chak, Benipur, Bhagawanpur, Birbhanpur, Dindaspur, Gangapur, Harpal Pur, Kakarmatta, Kandwa, Kotwa, Lohta, Maruadih, Phulwaria, Ramnagar, Salarpur, Shivdaspur, Sir Gobardhan, Susuwahi, Suzabad, Umarha, Varanasi, Varanasi cantt. Villages Villages in Varanasi district Pindra Tehsil A Adhkatiya Kala Khas Aharak Ahiran Ahirani Ajaipur Akorha Amaut Auraon Ausanpur Azoarepur B Babatpur Babhanpura Bachaura Badhauna Baghaita Baharipur Baliakheri Basni C Chadpur D Dabethuwa Deorai E Eshipur G Gang Khurd J Janakpatti Jayapur K Kathiraon Khalispur Khanzadipur Kudi L Lamhi M Mehdiganj Murdi P Phoolpur R Raghunathpur Rajpur S Sir Gobardhan T Tisaura V Vyaspur Z Zafarabad Varanasi Tehsil A Adampur Airla Aitha Akhari Amara Khaira Chak Anantpur Araji Line B Benipur Bhagawanpur Birbhanpur D Dindaspur G Gangapur H Harpal Pur S Salarpur Susuwahi U Umarha India : Uttar Pradesh : Varanasi
Languages & Dialects spoken	Bengali Bhojpuri English Hindi Hindustani Urdu
Political representation	MP Narendra Modi (Incumbent Prime Minister of India) MLA Ajay Rai Jyotsana Srivastava Mahendra Singh Patel Ravindra Jaiswal Shyamdev Roy Chaudhari (Dada) Surendra Singh Patel Tribhuvan Ram Uday Lal Maurya
Constituency	Lok Sabha Varanasi Vidhan Sabha Ajagara Pindra Rohaniya Sevapuri Shivpur Varanasi Cantt. Varanasi North Varanasi South
Transportation	Air Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport Rail Babatpur Bhulanpur Kashi Manduadih Varanasi Junction Varanasi City Road Grand Trunk Road
Education	Universities Benaras Hindu University Central University for Tibetan Studies Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith Sampurnanand Sanskrit University Medical colleges Faculty of Ayurveda Institute of Medical Sciences Colleges Arya Mahila Mahavidyalaya DAV Post Graduate College Faculty of Arts Faculty of Commerce Faculty of Science Faculty of Social Sciences Harish Chandra Postgraduate College Mahila Maha Vidyalaya SMS Sri Agrasen Kanya P.G. College Subhash Chandra Mahavidyalaya Sunbeam College for Women Udai Pratap Autonomous College Vasant Kanya Mahavidyalaya Vasanta College for Women CBSE schools Central Hindu Boys School Central Hindu Girls School Delhi Public School Guru Nanak English School Raj English School Sant Atulanand Convent School UP board schools C.M. Anglo Bengali College ICSE schools St Joseph's Convent School St.John's School,Varanasi W. H. Smith Memorial School
Places of worship	Buddhist temples Sarnath Churches Blank Hindu temples Aghori Baba Keenaram Sthal Bharat Mata Bharat Mata Mandir Durga or her Avatar Durga Mandir Sankata Devi Mandir Hanuman Sankat Mochan Mandir Parvati or her Avatar Annapurna Devi Mandir Lalita Gauri Mandir Vishalakshi Temple Shiva or his Avatar Kaal Bhairav Mandir Kashi Vishwanath Temple Mrityunjay Mahadev Mandir Nepali Mandir New Vishwanath Mandir (Birla Mandir) Shri Tilbhandeshwar Mahadev Mandir Others Tulsi Manas Mandir Mosques Gyanvapi Mosque Ravidasis Shri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan
Ghats	Assi Ghat Dashashwamedh Ghat Ganga Mahal Ghat (I) Lalita Ghat Manikarnika Ghat Munshi Ghat Sant Ravidas Ghat Scindia Ghat Tulsi Ghat
Point of interest	Ashoka Stambh Bharat Kala Bhawan Bharat Mata Mandir Ganges Ghats Jantar Mantar Ramnagar Fort
Hospitals	Sir Sunderlal Hospital

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dashashwamedh Ghat.

• Ghats of Varanasi, webpage at Varanasi official website.