The thing about Uttar Pradesh is unique. Here on one side is the Taj Mahal, a symbol of love, while on the other side is the Ram temple of Ayodhya and the splendor of Mathura-Vrindavan. But the place which has attracted the most attention of the country and the world in the last four years is the city of Baba Bholenath – Kashi (Varanasi).
The old ghat, evening aarti and the fragrance of Kachori-Jalebi were there earlier too, but after December 13, 2021, the picture of Kashi has changed, making it a ‘global tourism hub’.
26 crore devotees, 4 years and an unwavering faith
After the opening of Kashi Vishwanath Dham (Corridor), the surge in the number of devotees here is surprising. If government figures are to be believed, more than 26 crore people have visited Baba Vishwanath in the last four years.
Just understand the depth of this figure – this number is more than the total population of countries like Pakistan and Japan. On an average 6.5 crore people are reaching Kashi every year. Where earlier people were afraid of crowds and narrow streets, now there is openness and divinity.
Now there is no darshan, there is ‘easy darshan’
Earlier, getting lost in the streets of Banaras was both a fear and a romance, but it was a big problem for the elderly and the disabled. Kashi Vishwanath Dham has converted this problem into facilities.
- Care in every season: Now you will not have to burn your bare feet in the hot sun, because mats that prevent burning have been laid. There are modern arrangements like ‘German Hangar’ to protect from cold.
- Boon for the elderly: If the elders of the house are with them, wheelchairs and golf carts are available for them. A special route has been made so that they can have darshan comfortably without any jostling. Along with this, ORS and medical facilities are also available.
Not only religion but also center of employment
By making the Dham grand and huge, not only the priests but the entire Banaras have benefited. There has been a huge increase in the income of hotels, auto owners, boat owners and Banarasi saree-handicraft sellers.
Today’s Kashi is not just a religious place, but it has become a wonderful confluence of our culture and modernity. If you want to see the change, then you should definitely visit ‘New Kashi’ once.
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