According to tradition, one must take a bath in these five ghats in a specific order on a single day to help attain salvation or moksha. In Hinduism, taking a bath in these tirthas has profound significance. Situated along the banks of the river Ganges, each ghat represents a divine part of Lord Vishnu.
- Assi Ghat – symbolizes the head of Lord Vishnu
- Dashashwamedha Ghat – symbolizes the chest region of Lord Vishnu
- Manikarnika Ghat – represents the navel region
- Pancha Ganga Ghat – represents the thighs of Lord Vishnu
- Adi Keshava Ghat – symbolizes the feet region of Lord Vishnu

The word ‘Assi’ means ‘sword’, it is the place where Durga Devi, after the fierce battle between demon Shumbha and Nishumbha, threw the sword into the river.
Hence, the river came to be known as the Assi River.
It is also the sacred site where the famous poet Tulsidas finished his epic composition Ramacharitamanas, in the native language Awadhi.
Dashashwamedha Ghat: It is the most significant ghat located on the banks of the river Ganga in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. This ghat is very famous for the mesmerizing Ganga aarti, which takes place after dusk. The aarti that begins at 7 PM lasts for nearly 45 minutes. During winter, the aarti begins at 6 PM.
According to ancient puranas, Lord Brahma performed 10 Ashwamedha Yajna, hence the ghat got its name as Dashashwamedha Ghat.
Manikarnika Ghat: It is the sacred ghat located on the banks of the river Ganga, which is famous for performing cremation of dead bodies.
One can gain immense punya if one takes a holy dip in the waters of the River Ganga. According to the Puranas, it was the place dug by Lord Shiva in search of the earring or Manikarnika that fell into the ground from the ear of Parvati Devi. Hence, the ghat came to be known as Manikarnika Ghat.
According to Hinduism, death is not considered the end of life; rather, it is considered the gateway to attain liberation or moksha. Also, it traverses the soul from one body to another to clear the karmic debt.
Pancha Ganga Ghat: It is one of the most significant ghats in Varanasi, known for the confluence of 5 rivers: Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Kirana, and Dhutapapa. Since it is located at the confluence of five rivers, it got its name Pancha ganga. It is also known as Bindu Madhava Ghat, since it is located near Bindu Madhava Temple.
It is a renowned ghat for performing your prayers, offering, taking a holy dip, and also a place to celebrate significant festivals and rituals.
Adi Keshava Ghat: It is one of the ancient ghats of Kashi. Besides this ghat, there is a famous Adi Keshava Perumal temple. It is located at the confluence of two rivers: Varuna and Ganga. Among all the crowded ghats, it is the only ghat where one can find peace with less number of devotees.















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