North India’s not so Hidden Gem

Photo Credit: https://www.culturalindia.net/indian-pilgrimage/varanasi.html

Located on the banks of the holy Ganges river, Varanasi is an amazing study in how culture and art can embed themselves into the being of a city. There is so much going on that it is impossible to describe it all without resorting to a laundry list of all the creative industries.

Varanasi is a holy city and hosts many cultural and religious events, including scheduled worship and festivals. There are hundreds of temples and worship areas, including household shrines tucked into side-alleys. One of the most interesting festivals I discovered was the Ramlila at Ramnager, which tells the story of the Ramanaya through an immersive month-long performance which builds a sense of belonging for the attendees, many of whom attend each day.

There are street vendors selling craft arts and a strong weaving community which has built a name for itself by creating a type of saree known as the Baranasi saree, which is renowned throughout India.  

Another aspect of Varanasi is the Banaras Hindu University, which is the largest university campus in Asia and fosters a sense of learning and community. 

These are only a few of the amazing aspects of Varanasi I found while conducting my research for the exemplar cities assignment. Varanasi is a city filled with art, culture, religion and learning and I suggest anyone who is interested in learning more take a look at the fascinating body of academic work surrounding the artist community in the city.