Subah-e-Banaras, a Mahamandi initiative.

Following the PM Modi’s call for building the "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" and the Theme of being "Vocal for Local", the Marketing Interest Group(MIG) of NITIE, revamped its annual flagship “Mahamandi event” to inculcate the ever-relevant theme of self-sufficiency by promoting indigenous products.

 

This Independence day, under the auspices of the Promoter/mentor in-charge Prof. T Prasad (Mandi Sir), the MIG is undertaking a virtual pan-India drive to promote the lesser-known local, indigenous products and services wherein the spirit of inclusivity and themes of "Unity in Diversity" will be highlighted. The theme is also in tune with the Mandi slogan of “Socho Becho Seekho”. This post is my contribution to the same.

 While most of my friends have chosen a local product (some already renowned and some lesser-known), I am taking a different approach altogether. I am choosing to promote the unique Experience of “Subah-e-Banaras”. An experience of the morning at the world-famous "Assi-Ghat" of the oldest surviving city in the world, Banaras (official name Varanasi).

 

 

The city, which is, the contemporary of Athens, Peking, Jerusalem, and Babylon survived through history and maintained its socio-cultural ethos while others either couldn’t survive the wrath of History or moved to a different ethos.  It’s that age-old spirit of the city that I want to put on a pedestal today. The morning at Assi Ghat which has been a focal point of countless poems and literary contents is a refreshing and awakening experience for anyone who wants to feel the embodiment of 3000+ years of history. 

यूनान मिश्र रोमां, सब मिट गए जहां से,
कोई बात है कि हस्ती मिटती नहीं हमारी!

 

Also known as the “City of Lights” (because of its emanating aura of eternal bliss and spiritual tranquillity), Benaras is the city at the zenith and epitome of the Indian cultural plurality of "The Ganga Jamuni Tehjeeb" on one hand and glorious Indian  heritage on the other. The city has been home to luminaries throughout History, giving the world the likes of  Kabir, Tulsidas, Jaishankar Prasad, Prem Chand, Lal Bahadur Sastri, Bhartndu Harishchand, Madan Mohan Malviya, Ustad Bismillah Khan, and Rani Laxmibai among others. The entire experience of Varanasi cannot be surmised in a single post, but the "Subah-e-Banaras" experience is enough to get one a feel of why people from all around the world are in awe of the city.

 

Why Subah-e-Banaras

Since Banaras boast of innumerable famous products and services like Banarsi Saree, Banarsi Paan, and Chat, Evening Ganga Aarti, countless temples (including the unique Bharat Mata Mandir) , unique handi-crafts and many music Gharanas (of Tabla, Thumri, and Sitar), it is not very surprising that an experience which could have been the USP of any other city gets lost in the shuffle. The  "Subah-e-Banaras" experience is one such experience which accentuates the Banarsiya spirit of being "मस्त" while the world is "पस्त ". We will try to cover a comprehensive experience in future posts and try to propagate the same by being "Focal" on this "Local" experience in a "Vocal" way. 

Some local paraphernalia of the experience includes:

 1. Sunrise at the crescent-shaped Ganga river ( myth: in the shape of Lord Ram's bow)

2. Boating along the ghats with each ghat encompassing its own unique heritage and story deeply rooted in history and mythology. 

3. Interaction with Sadhus at the Ghat, who possess knowledge that transcends the physical realm.

4. Local handicrafts and paintings.

5. Local cuisine including the marquee Kachori-Jalebi.

 

These sections will be explored in greater detail with the video blog. 

To be continued.........

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