Landed in Kashi a few days ago and am now stationed in Durga Kund at my favorite hotel, Deepak Palace, just next to Assi Ghat. Somehow, I keep coming back to this city every year or so. What I like most is my evening jogging sessions at Banaras Hindu University. I just love walking inside the large campus area. I lose a lot of weight when I am in Kashi, and it helps me remain fit. It is now the fag end of the rainy season, and Varanasi has been wet. It rains in the evenings and at night sometimes, but I still manage to get my walks around the BHU campus.
Walking in the rain has its own charm, and I am enjoying it. I am in a place steeped in spirituality; there are temples and ashrams everywhere. One can hear temple bells in the morning and in the evenings as locals throng to the temple for prayers and Arti. I think Kashi and Char Dham in Uttarakhand are the most spiritual places in India, and one has to visit these places if one is a devout Sanatana.
My diet completely changes when I am in this city; I turn vegetarian, which is good for my gut health. I try to enjoy the simple things in Kashi, like good food, long walks, fresh air, just watching the trees, or admiring the gardens. I try to get happiness from my surroundings, and I also feel my writing improves when I am in Kashi.
My quaint love affair with this city has continued for over a decade, and I intend to keep my tryst with this magical ancient city, the Jerusalem of India, where Hinduism and Sanatana Dharma began. Kashi is a city as ancient as time itself.
I spend my evenings meandering through the busy markets of Lanka, teeming with evening shoppers and families enjoying chaat and pakoras. Kashi has a much lower cost of living than other metro towns; in that way, it is an affordable city, and one can get by with less money. People here have limited needs, and the city shuts down by nine p.m.
The city attracts a lot of tourists from all over the world, and everyone has Kashi on their bucket list. Known as the city of death, people come here to die so that their souls can attain salvation. It is a city of myths, legends, folklore, and stories.
With my dear friend Tiwari keeping me company, I like the vibe of Kashi and always take a stroll around the ghats.
I just got a call from a documentary filmmaking company called Docubay. They want to make a documentary about my dad’s story and will shoot with me for a few days. I have given them my consent to be part of the film. I am finally getting into a routine in the city, and I like that. So, stay tuned for more posts on Kashi.
