Ghats in Varanasi
Okay kiddo, so you know how sometimes people go and take a bath in a pool or a river, right? Well, in the holy city of Varanasi in India, there are these special places called ghats that are used for bathing, praying and even cremating the dead.
A ghat is kind of like a set of stairs that goes down to the river, and there are lots and lots of them along the Ganges River in Varanasi. People come to the ghats to take a bath in the river, which they believe will purify their bodies and souls. Some people even go to the ghats to make offerings or pray to the gods.
But there's another reason that the ghats are so important in Varanasi. See, in Hindu culture, when someone dies, their body is usually cremated - which means it is burnt until only ashes remain. And the people of Varanasi believe that if a person's ashes are scattered in the Ganges River, their soul will be released from the cycle of reincarnation and achieve eternal peace.
So every day, lots and lots of people come to the ghats to perform cremations for their loved ones who have died. It might sound a little bit scary, but it's actually an important part of their culture and tradition.
So there you have it, kiddo - a ghat in Varanasi is a special place next to the river where people go to take a bath, pray to the gods, and even perform cremations for their loved ones who have passed away.
A ghat is kind of like a set of stairs that goes down to the river, and there are lots and lots of them along the Ganges River in Varanasi. People come to the ghats to take a bath in the river, which they believe will purify their bodies and souls. Some people even go to the ghats to make offerings or pray to the gods.
But there's another reason that the ghats are so important in Varanasi. See, in Hindu culture, when someone dies, their body is usually cremated - which means it is burnt until only ashes remain. And the people of Varanasi believe that if a person's ashes are scattered in the Ganges River, their soul will be released from the cycle of reincarnation and achieve eternal peace.
So every day, lots and lots of people come to the ghats to perform cremations for their loved ones who have died. It might sound a little bit scary, but it's actually an important part of their culture and tradition.
So there you have it, kiddo - a ghat in Varanasi is a special place next to the river where people go to take a bath, pray to the gods, and even perform cremations for their loved ones who have passed away.