Varanasi, also known as Benares or Kashi, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with a history stretching back over 3,000 years. Influencer Bojana Matković recently visited India and shared her impressions, particularly about the city of Varanasi, on her TikTok profile.
"I can't believe I'm writing this, but I visited a city where people come to die, and the strangest thing is that this city surprised and delighted me so much that I would return tomorrow," she wrote in her TikTok post. She described Varanasi as a city that one must experience.
Matković depicted a beautiful, colorful city along a river with stunning architecture, where over 20,000 people come to die each year and hundreds of bodies are publicly burned daily. "Hindus believe that they can break the cycle of rebirth and be cleansed of their sins if they die and are cremated in Varanasi," she explained.
As you walk through the city, you'll see fires constantly burning on the ghats, the steps leading to the sacred Ganges River. People are cremated here day and night, and death is a normal part of life. Families of the deceased play and wait for the ashes to be scattered into the Ganges.
Varanasi is more than just a city of death. It is one of the oldest cities in the world, a place where the highest quality silk is produced. It is the most colorful, interesting, and chaotic place in the world, according to Matković.
Varanasi is a significant pilgrimage site for Hindus. Believers come to bathe in the river and wash away sins, and many wish to die in Varanasi, believing it allows liberation from the cycle of reincarnation. The city is known for its ghats, the stepped banks leading to the Ganges.
The most famous ghats are Manikarnika Ghat and Harishchandra Ghat, where open-air cremations are performed daily. These ceremonies attract the attention and respect of tourists and believers from around the world. Every evening, a grand Ganga Aarti ritual is held on the banks of the Ganges, with fire, music, and mantras dedicated to the river goddess.
Observing this ceremony is an unforgettable experience for both believers and visitors. Matković, originally from Macedonia, lives in Croatia and shares her travel experiences and recommendations on TikTok and Instagram.