🌊 Bathing at the ghats
Along the river bank are many ghats. Pilgrims go down the steps at dawn to bathe in the Ganges and pray. They believe the water washes away bad karma and gives a new start.
Hinduism: Celebration and Pilgrimage » Pilgrimage to Varanasi and Vrindavan
What you'll learn this session
Study time: 30 minutes
Edexcel spec: Paper 2 Hinduism (4RS1/2C), 2.2
- What Hindus do in Varanasi, and why the city matters to them
- Vrindavan, the place of Krishna's childhood
- Different Hindu attitudes to pilgrimage today
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Unlock This CourseVaranasi: the city of Shiva
Varanasi stands on the western bank of the River Ganges in northern India. Hindus also call it Kashi, which means "the shining one". Hindus believe it is the city of Shiva, and many see it as one of the holiest places in India. It is also one of the oldest cities in the world that people still live in. Pilgrims come from all over India and from other countries.
This lesson builds on the one about the nature of pilgrimage and the Ganges. Remember that the Ganges is honoured as the goddess Ganga and that Hindus believe bathing in her water cleanses bad karma.
Key terms:
- Varanasi (Kashi): the holy city of Shiva on the River Ganges.
- Ghat: a flight of stone steps leading down to a river, where people bathe and pray.
- Arti: a worship ritual in which lamps are waved in front of a deity, here in front of the river.
- Liberation (recap from What Is Life For? Meaning, Purpose, Salvation and Liberation): release from the cycle of birth and rebirth. The earlier word for this is moksha.
What pilgrims do in Varanasi
🔥 Evening arti
In the evening, priests at some ghats perform an arti to the Ganges. They wave large oil lamps, chant and ring bells, while pilgrims watch, sing and float small lamps on the water.
🛐 The Kashi Vishwanath Mandir
This is the most famous mandir (temple) in Varanasi. It is dedicated to Shiva, whom it honours as "Lord of the Universe". Pilgrims queue for darshan of the deity and offer water, flowers and prayers.
🏯 Other mandirs
Varanasi has a very large number of mandirs to Shiva and to other deities. Many pilgrims visit several during their stay.
Ramnagar Fort. The spec calls this Ramgarh Fort, but it is usually known as Ramnagar Fort. It stands across the river from the main city. It is linked with the Ram Lila, the play of the story of Rama. In Ramnagar the Ram Lila is performed over about a month, in different places around the town, and many people travel to watch it as an act of devotion.
Why Varanasi is important
For many Hindus, Varanasi is where heaven and earth are close. Because it is Shiva's city, they believe that worship here brings special blessing and merit. Many hope to visit at least once in their lifetime.
Many Hindus also believe that to die in Varanasi, or to be cremated beside the Ganges there, brings liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth. Some elderly people travel to the city in their final years for this reason. The cremation rites themselves are taught in a later lesson.
Vrindavan: the place of Krishna's childhood
Another place of pilgrimage for Hindus today is Vrindavan, in northern India, south of Delhi. You met Vrindavan in the lesson on Krishna. Hindus believe this is where Krishna spent his childhood, playing with the cowherds and the gopis. It is especially important to Vaishnavas, the followers of Vishnu, because they honour Krishna as an avatar of Vishnu.
- Visiting temples. Vrindavan has a very large number of mandirs to Krishna and his beloved Radha. Pilgrims gain darshan of the murtis (the sacred images) there.
- Walking the pilgrim path. Many pilgrims walk the path around the town, praying as they go. Walking, rather than riding, is seen as part of the devotion.
- Singing Krishna's names. Pilgrims join in kirtan, singing and chanting the names of Krishna, often for hours.
- Festivals. Many come for Janmashtami, Krishna's birthday, and for the spring festival of Holi, which is celebrated there with great joy.
Its importance is that visiting the land of Krishna's childhood helps pilgrims feel close to him and to grow in bhakti, loving devotion.
Different attitudes to pilgrimage today
Hindus do not all agree about how important pilgrimage is.
🙏 In favour
Many say pilgrimage brings merit and builds devotion. They say being at a holy place with thousands of other believers strengthens faith. Many also value the link with their family's traditions.
💭 Cautious
Some point to the cost of the journey, the crowds and the pollution of the river. Others hold that God is found in the heart, so a pure life and devotion at home matter more than travelling.
Pilgrimage is not a single required act for every Hindu, and many Hindus never make a major pilgrimage.
Common mistakes
- Saying Varanasi is only a place of death. Most pilgrims go to bathe, pray and see the mandirs.
- Mixing up the two cities. Varanasi is the city of Shiva. Vrindavan is the place of Krishna's childhood.
- Writing that all Hindus see pilgrimage as essential. Views differ, and the exam rewards you for showing this.
Exam-style question
(a) Outline two activities that Hindus take part in when they make a pilgrimage to Varanasi. [4 marks]
(b) Explain why Vrindavan is important to Hindus today. [6 marks]
(c) "Pilgrimage is the most important part of being a Hindu." Discuss this statement, considering the arguments for and against. [10 marks]
Model answer
(a) One activity is bathing in the Ganges from the ghats at dawn (1), which Hindus believe washes away bad karma (1). Another is watching or joining the evening arti to the river (1), when lamps are waved and hymns are sung to honour Ganga (1).
(b) Vrindavan is important because Hindus believe it is where Krishna spent his childhood (1). Followers of Vishnu honour Krishna as an avatar of Vishnu (1), so being in his home town helps them feel close to him (1). Pilgrims visit its many mandirs to Krishna for darshan (1) and sing his names in kirtan (1). Festivals such as Janmashtami and Holi are celebrated there with great joy, which draws many visitors (1).
(c) Plan. For: pilgrimage to places such as Varanasi is believed to bring merit, cleanse karma and, for some, liberation; it builds devotion and links people with their tradition. Against: it is not compulsory; many Hindus say God is found in the heart, so a good life, daily worship (puja) and selfless service (seva) matter more; journeys can be costly and crowded. Possible conclusion: pilgrimage is very important for many Hindus, but it is one path among several, so it is not the most important part for everyone.
Exam tip
In a 4-mark "Outline two" question, give each activity and add one short fact about it. That is two marks for each, so do not write more than you need.