Thursday, July 21, 2011

Hanuman Ghat

It is the religious site for Hindus and Buddhists alike. River banks are often used by the local people to burn dead bodies called 'Ghat'. People have the practise of visiting such ghats areas in the early mornings to wash themselves purifying their body and then to go about visiting temples and images of gods and goddesses, a process of purifying one's mind and soul. Ghats usually have one or more crematories where the dead bodies are burned to ashes and the ashes in turn are thrown into the rive as a part of Hindu/Buddhist culture. There are several such Ghats in around Bhaktapur. 

Hanuman Ghat is very popular Ghat in Bhaktapur, it spreads to a larger area with many religious images, objects and structures scattered around in such array that even a non religious perosn would start feeling differently once visiting there. For tourists it is like alking about in an alien land. The largest Shiva Lingam(Idol) in nepal, temple of Ram , numerous store sculptures, small stupas, shiva lingams, more can be observed in this Ghat area. Visiting this place in the early morning is recomanded. One can observe how a day begins for a religious traditional Newar in Bhaktapur.

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