Dashashwamedh Ghat, one of the most prominent ghats of Varanasi, is closely tied to the city’s mythology and devotion. Its name comes from the Sanskrit words dasha (ten) and ashwamedha (horse sacrifice). According to tradition, Lord Brahma performed ten such sacrifices here to honor and appease Lord Shiva. Legends say Shiva had withdrawn from Kashi when King Divodasa ruled with great virtue, and Brahma’s yajnas were meant to restore Shiva’s presence in the city, reaffirming Kashi as his eternal abode.
The current ghat structure was built in the 18th century by Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao and renovated by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar, melding historical legacy with ancient spirituality. Situated near the revered Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Dashashwamedh Ghat is a bustling center of devotion.
Each evening at sunset, the ghat hosts the mesmerizing Ganga aarti. Priests in saffron robes perform synchronized rituals with multi-tiered flaming lamps, conch shells, and incense to worship the Ganges River, believed to embody goddess Ganga herself. Devotees and visitors gather on the wide steps or boats to witness the glowing firelight against the river’s dark waters, creating a stunning spiritual spectacle.
Dashashwamedh Ghat is both a sacred landmark and a vibrant place of worship, where myth, faith, and ritual come together in Varanasi.
