Navin Kumar Sharma
Google
Manikarnika Ghat is one of the famous and unique ghats by the Ganga River. It is different from other ghats because it is where Hindus burn dead bodies. People believe that burning a body here helps the soul become free from being born and dying again, which they call Moksha.
Early one morning, around 4 AM in December 2024, we went to Manikarnika Ghat. It was the third time we had been to this place. We were there to join the line for the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Darshan and the path took us through Manikarnika Ghat. It was very crowded because of the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. As we walked, we saw many funeral pyres where bodies were being burned. We stopped for a moment to respect the people who had died. Watching the burning pyres and the priests doing their rituals made us feel sad. It was a very deep and emotional experience. The flames went up high, and there was a unique,old smell. It made us think about how short life is. But that feeling didn't last long, and we got caught up in the usual things of life again. We continued walking through the ghat to reach the temple line, leaving the burning bodies behind, even though that's the truth of life. Visiting Manikarnika Ghat was a powerful experience. Seeing the cremations made us think a lot about life and death. We got to see ancient Hindu traditions being practiced. The ghat is always busy, with funeral fires burning all day and night by the Ganga River. Lastly,the ghat’s message is that death is the ultimate truth.