Trip to Varanasi during Kojagari Lakshmi Puja

For a day we can sleep more because we would leave at 9 am. We get up and eat a buffet breakfast. At 9 we were on our way to the temples of the east, which are another group of temples more scattered and about 2 km away from the center of Khajuraho.

Luckily, they are together in a walled enclosure. We arrived at 9:15. In one of them we had to remove our shoes completely, without problem. It was the first hour and the stone did not burn. We caught a priest doing the Lakshmi Puja. We were enthralled for a while with the songs. We take no photo out of respect, and something else.

One of the workers was sweeping the hall. We reach a hall that was closed. The center was black, and the room was painted, contrasting with the rest of the temple painted all white. Then we saw the largest temple, which had been rebuilt as they could. Many original stones are missing, replaced by smooth stones, without reliefs.

Then we come to another. Inside there was a very large statue of Shiva, Vishnu and Parvati. During these movements through the temples, we used to stop at every fifth house, because we saw kids and we gave them candy and balloons. Suddenly 20 or 30 came out of all the nooks and crannies to see that we were distributing things.

They were nice and cheerful. We had to catch them at bath time, because they were usually in the wells where they drew water, bathing and playing. We arrived at the town, and go to the place we were yesterday at the last minute taking a few beers. I ordered a Masala Chai. It must be 11 or so when we started the walk. The same kid greeted us who was a little while with us yesterday during the blackout

Halfway back we sat for a little while in the shade to rest . We took the opportunity to take a photo. At 11:30 we go to the airport. Around 11:45 we were at the airport. We arrived at the airport, and we had to be the first tourists, because there were only 2 or 3 other people.

Soon they told us that we could check in. So we took the bags, put them through a scanner and sealed them. Then they made us the boarding pass. Then they looked at the carry-on luggage and put a tag on each bag. We read that we could not pass with more than one carry-on bag per person, and that we could not take medicines or bottles of water. We asked, since we had some medicines.

After a while, the couple arrived who we met in Orchha and we stayed for a while talking about what they had seen. At about 13:00, I got some chocolate cookies, and tea and the man offered me fried Moong Dal. We leave the bags on the belt to go through the scanner, along with the typical, camera, mobile, purse, watch, ring, and we pass a manual metal detector.

The security puts 2 stamps in the boarding pass, and inside, we pick up the bags of hand luggage. We wait to board the plane that had just arrived. At 14:00 we boarded. The flight went without problems. We had snacks and arrived at the scheduled time, at 14:45. We said goodbye to the couple, who were going to another hotel different from ours.

We are picked up by the driver and the representative. Already in the hotel, the representative asks me for the tour program and I leave it to him. He takes note of the flight departure from Varanasi to Delhi, and he tells us what we are going to do those days. This evening at 6 pm, we will go to catch the boat to see at 7 pm the Aarti ceremony.

After a short rest at 6:00 pm we went down to see the Aarti. We arrived at the parking lot and our driver tells us that we have arrived and he introduces us to our boat man. We started to walk around all the way and reached the Dasaswamedh Ghat where the boats are there, which we can consider as the most important, given the influx of people. There are masseurs, hairdressers, people doing yoga, meditating. It is where the Aarti ceremony takes place.

The boatman say, together with the Manikarnika Ghat, it is the most important. We caught a raft and went upstairs to see different Ghats before the ceremony began. It seems that we are going up but in reality we are in favor of the current. We reach Manikarnika, the Ghat of Cremations.Then we return to the Ghat of the ceremony.

On the way, our boat man took the opportunity to splash us with water from the Ganges, a symbolic baptism in the sacred river. In one of the Ghats we went through, there was a temple with erotic sculptures similar to those of Khajuraho. I asked him if the Puja is the same as the Aarti. He told us that basically yes, but that the bid is for prayers in general, and the Aarti is when those prayers and requests are for something more concrete.

In a Ghat the priests make chants, rhythmic movements, ring bells and move a snake-shaped candle. In the middle of the ceremony it started to rain, and when the ceremony ended, it started to fall with desire. Near the end of the ceremony, we got off the boat. So we saw the last part of the ceremony from the mainland and we could see the ceremonial movements more closely.

Because of the abundant rain that was falling, the return to the car became more fun. Before going to the hotel, our guide took us to see the Lakshmi Narayan Temple in the Assi Ghat. We entered but the floor was wet. Inside there are stained glass windows with scenes of mythology and several sculptures among which stands out a carved piece of marble with the figures of Vishnu and Laxmi.

It has frescoes on all the ceilings, domes and a tower. It is not very well maintained, but it is worth visiting. The truth is that they are all very similar inside but today the Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is being celebrated, so there are a lot of people inside.

On the way through the alleys of Varanasi, they tell us that these stalls of different shops in the morning are shops and at night becomes the bed of the people. We returned to the hotel completely soaked, and we changed and had dinner at the terrace of the hotel under the glowing full moon of purnima with white rice, dal and curry. I also ordered some Malai Kofta stuffed with raisins and dried fruits that were a delight. As dessert they give the coconut ladoo from the Lakshmi Puja that happened before. We went up to the room and go to sleep.

lakshmi images photos

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20 Comments
  • dishantparikh
    dishantparikh October 6, 2011 at 11:49 PM

    amazing photographs...!!!

  • Angad Achappa
    Angad Achappa October 7, 2011 at 5:23 AM

    Thanks for stopping by my blog.. :) These are some lovely images here... Nice blog!!

    Regards,
    Angad Achappa

  • EG CameraGirl
    EG CameraGirl October 7, 2011 at 6:30 AM

    I would try to stay awake all night to make sure I didn't miss Goddess Lakshmi. :)

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous October 7, 2011 at 8:56 AM

    Beautiful photos to go with this lovely tradition.

  • Desiree
    Desiree October 7, 2011 at 9:11 AM

    You have the most wonderful rituals and traditions steeped in your ages old culture that make my own look like an infant!

  • Leovi
    Leovi October 7, 2011 at 10:39 AM

    A picture with fine lines and exquisite shades of color, a delight.

  • Eden
    Eden October 7, 2011 at 8:17 PM

    Wonderfully captured photo. Thank you for sharing.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous October 7, 2011 at 10:13 PM

    nice ritual...

    beautiful photos...

  • Kala
    Kala October 8, 2011 at 12:59 AM

    Beautiful series of images. Thanks for sharing.

  • kalaiselvisblog
    kalaiselvisblog October 8, 2011 at 3:03 AM

    nice post buddy... everytime iam so excited to visit ur blog as i can aware of many such wonderful information... thanks 4 sharing...

  • Red Nomad OZ
    Red Nomad OZ October 8, 2011 at 4:28 AM

    Everyday actions are enhanced by ritual - it turn making them memorable. Particularly like the lights to drive away the evil spirits!

  • T. Becque
    T. Becque October 8, 2011 at 10:57 AM

    Nice. And sounds great, I'd love to see it myself.

  • Erika
    Erika October 8, 2011 at 4:45 PM

    Very interesting custom and nice shot.
    Bye-bye from Italy.

  • Charu
    Charu October 9, 2011 at 12:19 AM

    Thanks for the nice comment on my blog! And you really have a beautiful blog here with lovely photographs :)
    Take care...

  • Magia da Inês
    Magia da Inês October 9, 2011 at 6:09 AM

    ♥ •˚。
    °°Olá, amigo! 。♥。
    ● ♥• Passei para uma visitinha!!!
    Essa imagem é muito bonita.
    ˚。˚ Boa semana!
    ♥ •˚。Beijinhos.
    •˚。Brasil
    ..(░)(░)
    (░)(♥)(░)
    ..(░)(░)

  • Ingemar Pettersson
    Ingemar Pettersson October 9, 2011 at 9:45 AM

    Hi!
    Lovely images.
    greetings from Sweden
    /Ingmar

  • Nimi SunilKumar
    Nimi SunilKumar October 10, 2011 at 2:43 AM

    mind blowing clicks...and what a space:)

  • kankana
    kankana October 10, 2011 at 1:15 PM

    One of those time of the year when I miss India the most!

  • Priya Chilamkurthi
    Priya Chilamkurthi October 10, 2011 at 6:14 PM

    beautiful shot!

  • Hope
    Hope October 11, 2011 at 11:00 AM

    what a beautiful blessing! I will remember this every full moon thank you!

    and thank you for your visit and comment

    Hope

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