Leaving Kashi, Taking the Blessings Home 🕉️🌅

Some journeys end when we reach home. Others stay with us long after we’ve unpacked.

And just like that, our journey to Kashi came to an end.

I remember standing outside, looking at the streets of Varanasi one last time before we left. There were people walking everywhere, motorcycles trying to squeeze through narrow spaces, auto-rickshaws waiting for passengers, and shopkeepers going about their usual business.

Nothing had changed. The city was just as busy as when we arrived.

But somehow, I was leaving with a different feeling.

It’s difficult to explain. Maybe that’s the thing about certain places. You don’t always understand what they’ve given you until it’s time to leave.

A City That Never Really Slows Down

If you’ve been to Varanasi, you’ll probably understand what I mean when I say that this city has its own rhythm.

And if you haven’t, well, prepare yourself. 😄

The streets are busy. The traffic seems to have its own rules. People, vehicles and animals somehow manage to share spaces that don’t look wide enough for any of them.

There are little shops everywhere, people selling flowers and prayer items, and devotees making their way towards the temples.

Sometimes you have to stop walking because someone else is trying to pass. Sometimes you just follow the crowd and hope you’re heading in the right direction.

But I enjoyed seeing all of it.

I didn’t come here expecting a quiet holiday or comfortable sightseeing. Kashi was different.

There was something about walking through those streets, knowing that generations of people had travelled here before us, carrying their own prayers, hopes and reasons for visiting.

Some had come to seek blessings. Some to fulfil a promise. Some to remember loved ones.

And there we were, making our own journey.

I took photographs whenever something caught my attention. An auto-rickshaw parked along a narrow street. A busy road filled with people. The buildings, the signs, the everyday life happening around us.

They’re not the sort of photographs you’d necessarily find on a travel brochure. But they’re the ones I like.

They remind me of what it actually felt like to be there.

The Prayers That Brought Us Here

One of the most meaningful parts of this journey was performing prayers for Appa.

I don’t think I need to explain how much that meant to me.

There are certain things we do in life that are difficult to put into words, especially when they involve someone we love and miss.

We can plan the journey, arrange the transport, book the accommodation and make sure everything is ready.

But the feelings we carry with us are another matter.

That morning, we performed the prayers.

I won’t try to make that moment sound grander than it was. It was personal, and it meant a great deal to me.

I thought about Appa.

About the memories that remain, the things we remember unexpectedly, and how someone can continue to be part of our lives even when they’re no longer physically beside us.

I was grateful that we had made it to Kashi and had the opportunity to perform those prayers.

Sometimes gratitude doesn’t need many words. You simply feel it.

Kashi Vishwanath — A Visit I Will Remember

Visiting Kashi Vishwanath Temple was another important part of this journey.

I’ve visited Shiva temples before, and every temple has its own atmosphere, history and significance.

But there was something special about finally being in Kashi.

I’d heard about this sacred city and its connection to Lord Shiva for so long. To actually walk through its streets and visit the temple felt different from simply reading about it or seeing photographs.

It was my first time here. And I was happy that I had come.

There were crowds, of course. Plenty of them. But that’s part of the experience.

People had travelled from different places, speaking different languages, all making their way towards the same sacred destination.

I sometimes wonder about the stories of the people standing beside us in places like these.

How far have they travelled? Is it their first visit? Have they been waiting years to come? What prayers are they carrying?

We’ll probably never know. Yet, for a short moment, we’re all part of the same journey.

Har Har Mahadev. 🙏

The Chance to Serve

At the Sai Baba temple in Kashi, we also had the opportunity to serve food to people in need.

I’m grateful we could take part. We had come carrying our own prayers, and during this visit we could also offer a meal to someone else.

That is a memory I want to keep alongside the temple visits and the photographs. We felt blessed to be there, and blessed to have the chance to serve. 🙏

An Evening Beside the Ganga

Later, we returned to the river to witness the Ganga Aarti.

I had seen photographs and videos of the ceremony before, but being there in person was something else.

As evening approached, the ghats became increasingly busy.

People were finding places to sit. Boats were gathering on the river. Lights began appearing along the waterfront.

There was movement everywhere.

Looking across the Ganga, I could see the illuminated boats and their reflections moving across the water.

As darkness settled, the atmosphere changed.

The sounds of the ceremony, the lights, the prayers and the people gathered along the river made it a memorable evening.

I took photographs, although I also wanted to spend some time simply watching.

It’s easy to become so occupied with getting a good photograph that we forget to enjoy the moment in front of us. I do that sometimes. 😄

But that evening, I wanted to remember more than what my camera could capture. I wanted to remember what it felt like to be there.

The Ganga flowing past us. The lights reflecting on the water. The atmosphere of devotion all around.

It was one of those experiences I knew I would think about again after returning home.

The Last Few Photographs

On our final day, I found myself taking photographs of ordinary things.

The streets. The buildings. An auto-rickshaw. People going about their daily routines.

I even have a photograph of myself standing with my back towards the camera, wearing my black jersey with THANA and the number 8 printed on it.

Nothing particularly dramatic about that photograph. Just me, standing somewhere in Kashi.

But I like it.

Years from now, I might look at that picture and remember exactly where I was, what the streets looked like and how I felt about leaving.

That’s one reason I enjoy photography. Not every picture needs to be perfect.

Some are simply reminders that we were there. And sometimes those are the photographs that mean the most.

Heading Back

Eventually, it was time to leave.

The bags were packed, and we made our way towards the airport.

I always have mixed feelings at the end of a journey.

Part of me looks forward to going home. Having my usual coffee, getting back into my routine, and sleeping in my own bed.

Another part of me wishes I could stay just a little longer.

Maybe take one more walk. Visit one more place. Or sit somewhere quietly and watch the world go by.

But that’s how travelling works, isn’t it? We arrive, we experience what we can, and eventually we leave.

At the airport, I took a photograph of the aircraft waiting at the gate.

I don’t know why, but I enjoy taking photographs of aeroplanes too. Maybe it’s because every aircraft represents another journey beginning or ending.

Before long, we were on board. And Kashi was behind us.

One Last Gift From the Sky 🌅

During the flight, I looked out of the window and saw the sun beginning to set.

The sky was turning orange, with clouds scattered beneath the aircraft.

The sunlight stretched across the horizon, and the wing seemed to cut right through the colours.

It was beautiful.

Naturally, I reached for my phone. 📸

I took a photograph and spent a little longer looking outside.

There was something fitting about ending this journey with a sunset.

We had arrived in Kashi carrying prayers and personal reasons for being there. Now we were heading home.

I couldn’t help thinking about the places we’d visited, the people we’d seen, the prayers we’d performed and the moments that had stayed with me.

Especially the prayers for Appa.

I don’t know whether every journey changes us. I think sometimes we say that too easily.

But I do know that certain journeys become part of our memories in a way that ordinary days don’t.

And this was one of them.

What I’m Taking Home

I didn’t bring back anything extraordinary from Kashi.

What mattered most wasn’t something I could pack into my luggage. It was the experience of being there.

The opportunity to offer prayers for Appa. The blessings at Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The chance to serve food at the Sai Baba temple. The evening beside the Ganga.

The busy streets, the sounds, the people and even the traffic that seemed determined to test everyone’s patience. 😄

All of it became part of the journey.

And looking back, I wouldn’t want to remember only the beautiful parts. The crowds, the tiredness and the little inconveniences were part of being there too.

Travel isn’t always comfortable. Neither is life.

But there are moments when you realise that making the journey was worth everything that came with it.

For me, Kashi was one of those places.

Until We Meet Again, Kashi

I don’t know when I’ll return.

Maybe one day I’ll find myself walking through those same narrow streets again, hearing the familiar sounds and making my way towards the temple.

Maybe I’ll sit beside the Ganga and watch another evening unfold.

Or maybe this will remain one of those journeys I look back on through photographs and memories.

Either way, I’m glad I came.

I came with prayers in my heart. I leave with gratitude.

Thank you, Kashi, for the memories. Thank you for the blessings. And thank you for giving me another story to carry home.

Har Har Mahadev. 🕉️🙏

Some journeys are about the places we visit. Others are about the people we carry in our hearts.

Just here.
— Thana, Beyond The Horizon 🌅