Varanasi has been one of the most ancient cities and has its own enriching tradition and culture. The city is always submerged in spirituality and everywhere you go there this spirituality can be felt. The cities culture vividly varies on its art, dance, literature, temples, festivals, music, food etc. The people of the city are mostly carefree and they live their lives in the same manner. They are not in effect of anything rather free from heart and soul. The art and culture also dives from its history specially from hindus and buddhists. 

The city in its true form can be experienced by visiting the ghats in morning. The chants of mantras along with the rising sun in front of the flowing Ganges can give anyone a glimpse of how the city feels. Lets look into the enriching culture of this city.

Arts

Varanasi has been the home of many arts and crafts. Major among them are Ivory Work, Brassware, Bhadohi carpets, Musical instruments, copperware, stone articles and never to forget the textile style specially the Banarasi Sarees. These crafts are popularly found in Varanasi and people comes here to find any of these crafts. 

Dance

Varanasi has been the birthplace of many dance forms. The most common dance forms in Varanasi are Kathak and Ramlila. The Banaras Gharana form of Kathak originated in Varanasi. This dance form is a form of storytelling.

Literature

Varanasi has been the origin place of many literature and scholars. People like Kabir, Goswami Tulsidas, Munsi Premchand and Gopinath Kabiraj are from Varanasi. Except them many scholars have visited Varanasi at some time and are affected someway from it. Also it has been the place of universities like Banaras Hindu University and Sampurnanda Sanskrit University.

Temples

Temples and spirituality is at the heart of the city. Major temples are the Kashi Vishwanath temple, Maa Annapurna temple and Sankat Mochan temple. Excpet the Ganga ghats are famous for Ganga Arti and saints sitting all across reciting chants of mantras.

Festivals

Major festivals in Varanasi are Mahashivratri, Dev Deepawali, Holi, Akshay Tritiya, Dussehra etc. These festivals are celebrated in most beautiful and complete form in the city only. So the best experience of these festivals can only be attained here.

Music

Varanasi has been mostly place for classical music. Besides it also has given rise to Ragas and Artis. Most importants among them are Banaras Baaj, Thumri (Vocal) style etc. Vocalists like Girija Devi and Sitar player like Ravi Shankar has also from this place. Major instruments are Sarod, Sitar etc.

Food

The unique food that heavily resembled in Banaras are its snacks and the Banarasi Paan. In snacks chaats, kachori and other street breakfast are traditional here. Besides after every meal the people prefer a Banaraasi Paan.

So all these are in the culture of Varanasi, derived from its tradition and can be experienced in every street and place in Varanasi. Tourists coming there can feel these in every corner of the city.

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Written by Shouvik Sarkar