13 DEC, 2023
Sweta Gupta
Kashi Vishwanath Dham has welcomed over 13 crore devotees, including 16,000 international visitors, in the past two years, marking a remarkable increase in visitors.
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Kashi was the former name for the city now known as Varanasi. It sits along the sacred Ganges River. Found in Vishwanath Gali, the temple attracts millions of devotees annually.
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The temple is home to one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, which are sacred representations of Lord Shiva.
Photo: Twitter/@ShriVishwanath
The main deity at Kashi Vishwanath Temple is Lord Shiva - known as Shri Vishwanath and symbolizing the Lord of the Universe. The temple serves as a center of Shaiva philosophy.
Photo: Twitter/@ShriVishwanath
The Kashi Vishwanath Temple opens daily at 2.30 AM and is renowned for five types of Aartis: Mangala Aarti, Bhoga Aarti, Sandhya Aarti, Shringara Aarti, and Shayana Aarti.
Video: Twitter/@Shivprasad_N023
The temple hosts various pujas, each with unique significance. Rudrabhishek is a special worship dedicated to Lord Shiva, aiming to purify the atmosphere, absolve sins, and mitigate planetary influences.
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Devotees can join yatras like Panchatheertha Yatra, bathing in five main Ghats and visiting Kashi's shrines in a specific order. Another option is the Mauni Yatra, starting with a bath at Manikarnika ghat.
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While the temple observes various festivals like Ramnavami, Hanuman Jayanti, Dussehra, Holi, and Janmashtami, certain celebrations hold exceptional significance at this sacred site.
Photo: Getty Images