The art and culture of Kashi is unique. It is the rich cultural tradition of Kashi that makes it the cultural capital of India. A combination of archaeology, mythology, geography, art and history makes Kashi a great center of Indian culture. Though Kashi is associated mainly with Hinduism and Buddhism but one can find glimpse of many religious beliefs, types of worship and religious institutions at Kashi. It is amazing to see the primitive worship cults being practiced at Kashi.
Kashi presents a complete museum of Indian art and culture. At Kashi one can feel the changing patterns and movements in course of history. It has a rich and unique style of art forms and folk art. For centuries, Kashi has produced master craftsmen and earned name and fame for its beautiful Sarees, handicrafts, textiles, toys, ornaments, metal work, clay and woodwork and other crafts.
Since ancient times, Kashi has been the Capital of all knowledge (sarva Vidya kiRajdhani). Kashi has produced numerous famous scholars and intellectuals, who have left their mark in respective fields of activity. Kashi is home to numerous universities, college, schools, Madarsas and Pathshalas and the Guru Shishya tradition still continue in many institutions. The literary tradition of languages, dialects, newspapers, magazines and libraries continue to even this day.
Kashi presents a unique social and cultural fabric. Cultural and linguist pluralism and various ethnic groups are so very eternal to the holy city, Kashi. At Kashi one gets to explore the city of affluence, intellectuals, oral traditions, castes and customs, personalities, professions and communal harmony. There is another interesting facet to Kashi, where one gets to enjoy Banarasi pans, Thandai, Gamcha, BahriAlang and MaujMasti.
Music, drama and entertainment are all synonymous with Kashi. Banaras has long been famous for its music, both vocal and instrumental and has its own dance traditions. Add to this, Kashi has a very rich stock of folk music and drama (esp. Ramlila), fairs and festival and the rich tradition of akharas, games and sports. All these combine together to give a distinct look to the city of moksha, Kashi.
1. Importance of Kashi in India and especially for Hindus; various aspects of Kashi, its many names and what makes it the cultural capital of India.
2. Archaeology, Mythology, Geography, and History of Kashi- its unique situation on Ganges, and its journey through the history of India, and quest to know what makes it oldest living city.
3. Religious Varanasi- Many religions, place and types of worship, a religious place and institutions. You will find that even Primitive worship cults are still practiced in this city. Discover the city of Buddha, Jain Tirthankars, Shaiva and Vaishnava saints or Devoted saints like Kabir and Tulsi.
4. Arts, Crafts and Architecture of Kashi: You will be amused to see that Varanasi is a Museum architectural designs. It presents changing patterns and movements in course of history. It has a rich and original variety of paintings and sculptor styles and equally rich treasures of folk art. During the ages Varanasi has produced master craftsmen and Varanasi has earned name and fame for its Sarees, handicrafts, textiles, Toys, ornaments, metal work, clay and wood work, leaf and fibre crafts. With ancient crafts, Kashi has not lagged behind in Modern Industries.
5. Discover Ganga- the holiest of the holy river- its mythology, geography, socio- economic aspects, its monumental ghats and their story and the present condition of pollution.
6. The Capital of all knowledge- Discover the most ancient seat of education in India, World famous scholars and their `Shastrarthas', the great scholars, universities, college, schools, Madarsas and Pathshalas and Guru Shishya traditions, the epics, famous literary works, languages and dialects, journalistic traditions- newspapers and magazine, and famous libraries.
7. Discover the social and cultural fabric- Organisation of sacred complex and social spaces, the cultural pluristic, linguistic and ethnic groups. Discover the city of affluence, intellectuals, oral traditions, castes and customs, personalities, professions, communal harmony . Discover the rural Varanasi. And finally (and with deep insight) peep into, the pleasure of Pans, Thandai, Gamcha, BahriAlang and MaujMasti.
8. The City of Music and Drama and Entertainment: Kashi has been famous for its Music both vocal instrumental, it has its own dance tradition. Add to this a very rich stock of folk Music and drama (esp. Ramlila), the tradition Musical soirees, fairs and festival the rich tradition of Akharas, games and sports. Add to this classical Kashi Transport vehicles like Ekka and Modern Traffic Jam.
9. Industrial City: Discover the fast developing city of heavy, light and cottage industries, local handicrafts and other small scale industrial units. ( DLW, BHEL, Electric, Cycle,Pumps, Paper, Glass, Fertilizer etc.)
10. Medical World of Varanasi: Discover the ancient College of Plastic Surgery, Sushruta, Dhanvantri (God of Medicine), Divodas, and practice of all the ancient and modern systems of medicine in action.
11. The Unseen Kashi: Discover the spots around Varanasi, instituions, story of freedom struggle and the martyrs, history of Kashiraj, history of Sarnath, history of Bhadohi (Carpet town), of Mirzapur, of Ghazipur, know about the famous travellers and tourists, of the `Nijam'. And finally having seen the Panorama of Kashi, its continuity of culture, discover the identity of Kashi.
