Varanasi: sacred city
About this video
Varanasi, on the banks of the river Ganges, is one of the holiest sites in India, visited by millions of pilgrims each year. Its principal deity is Shiva, and every morning devotees bathe in the holy waters, which are thought to clean and purify. It is also a place where the old come to die, hoping to be liberated from the cycle of rebirths.
You'll be able to
- explain why Varanasi is a sacred city for Hindus.
- describe what pilgrims and holy men do along the ghats by the Ganges.
- explain why some people come to Varanasi at the end of their lives.
Key words
- pilgrim
- A person who travels to a holy place for religious reasons.
- ghats
- Stone steps that lead down to the river at Varanasi.
- Brahmin
- A member of the Hindu priestly class.
- cycle of rebirths
- The belief that a soul is born again and again into new lives.
- cremated
- When a dead body is burned, leaving ashes.
Transcript
[Music] one of the holiest sites in India is Varanasi located along the banks of the river Ganges each year millions of pilgrims come to visit the sacred city also known as Banaras or Kashi the City of Light the principal deity here is Shiva he and other gods and goddesses are worshiped at thousands of temples throughout the city stone steps called carts lead pilgrims down to the river every morning devotees can be found immersing themselves in the holy waters chanting to the Rising Sun the waters are taught to clean and purify along the carts are platforms where Brahmin priests and other holy men dispense prayers debate texts and conduct various rituals the riverfront is a meeting place there
are beggars and astrologers tourists renting boats and Men offering haircuts and massages Varanasi is a center of pilgrimage scholarship and tourism five men five masters but it is also a place where the old come to die to be liberated from the cycle of rebirths to be released from suffering the dead are cremated here and their ashes are strewn in the holy waters of the Ganges [Music] [Music] you
Video © Khan Academy, used under CC BY-NC-SA. Watch on Khan Academy. Puzzicle is not affiliated with Khan Academy.