Name/Title
StereographEntry/Object ID
2023.055.3.0309Description
A black and white stereograph. Image is of a temple on the river, several boats are seen in the water while a group of people are standing on the stairs. Above the image "T527 (Star)" is printed, below the image "V27431T A Burning Ghat on the Banks of the Sacred Ganges, Benares, India." is printed, to the left of the image "Keystone View Company Copyrighted, Underwood & Underwood, Inc. Manufacturers MADE IN U.S.A. Publishers" is printed, to the right of the image "Meadville, Pa., New York, N. Y., Chicago, Ill., London, England." is printed. On the reverse the following is printed:
V27431
BURNING GHAT ON BANKS OF SACRED GANGES, BENARES, INDIA
You are looking from the deck of a river-boat similar to those now lying at the shore. it has between five and six hundred miles to run before reaching Calcutta. "Ghat" means simply a sloping section of river-bank.
The buildings with the towers and curious budded domes are Hindu temples to various divinities. Some of the other structures are palaces owned by wealthy families. The bamboo umbrellas that blossom so thick down near the bank to the right are shelters from the hot sun; underneath their flat circules of shade men or women are changing their clothes after bathing in the sacred waters, or saying special prayers, or buying charms and amulets from the priests. Many a visitor here to-day has come hundreds of miles to bathe in the holy stream. For centruies these waters have been regarded as divinely efficacious in washing away sins.
Do you see the clouds of smoke rising from the nearer ghat? Just above the stream, at this side of the high wall, the body of some devout Hindu is being reduced to ashes, according to the orthodox custom. Flowers and fragrant oils were strewn upon the corpse and wood was piled above. Soon there will be left only a few cinders to be thrown into the river.
Benares is one of the oldest cities in the world. It has been a holy city of the Hindus for more than twenty-five centuries and is noted chiefly as one of the greatest religious centers in the world. It is also a commercial center of considerable importance, manufacturing large quantities of silk and beautiful clothes of gold. its population is about 200,000.
Copyright by The Keystone View CompanyCollection
Photograph Collection