Category BackStory

How April got its name: A story of nature and myth

The month April has mysterious origins. The most popular theory suggests that it derives from the Latin word aperire, meaning “to open.” This fits with the month’s timing, as April marks the opening of spring—when flowers begin to bloom and…

Lalita Ghat: A confluence of devotion and culture

Lalita Ghat is one of Varanasi’s revered riverfronts, situated between Manikarnika and Dashashwamedh Ghats near the famed Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Named after Goddess Lalitha, this ghat is closely associated with Shakti worship and features the Lalita Gauri Temple, a shrine…

Visalakshi Devi – The wide-eyed goddess of Kashi

The Visalakshi Devi Temple is located close to Mir Ghat and the Nepali Temple, just a two-minute walk from the ghats along the Ganges in Varanasi. The name Visalakshi comes from Sanskrit, where viśāla means “wide” or “expansive” and akshi means “eyes.”…