US YouTuber Returns to Varanasi for the Third Time, Says the City Changed Her Perspective on Life

Varanasi: Calling Varanasi just a city probably cannot capture its entire experience. The ghats of Ganga, the bells of the temples, the narrow streets, the morning boat trip and the funeral pyre of Manikarnika, here both life and death are seen together. American traveller and YouTuber Jessica Savano was also impressed by this different world of Varanasi. On her third visit to the city she recorded her experience on camera. The title of her video is “Inside Varanasi, India: The City of Death That Changed Me”. In the video, she said that the trip to Kashi had a deep impact on her outlook on life and death.

Why did Ganga Aarti impress Jessica?

After reaching Varanasi, Jessica took a closer look at the streets and ghats of the city. The evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat was a special part of her experience. Amidst the sound of conch shells, echo of bells, burning aarti and people gathered on the banks of Ganga, he had an experience which for him was completely different from normal tourism. A large part of Varanasi's spiritual identity is reflected in similar religious rituals and beliefs associated with the Ganga. 

Why did the perspective change on Manikarnika Ghat?

After the Aarti, Jessica reached Manikarnika Ghat, where the last rites are continuously performed. Manikarnika, one of the major cremation grounds of Varanasi, has been associated with religious beliefs about death and salvation for centuries. Here, watching the funeral pyres and the funeral procession closely made Jessica contemplate the impermanence of life. For him, this experience was linked to the realisation that ultimately all human life has the same end. Such religious and cultural beliefs regarding death have existed in Varanasi for a long time. 

What did you see on the morning boat trip?

Jessica also shared in her video the experience of seeing the city from a boat in the Ganga early in the morning. The view of the ghats at sunrise, the light falling on the water and the religious activities heard around him impressed him. To understand Varanasi, experiencing the everyday life there rather than just seeing the ghats as a tourist destination was an important part of his experience.

Why did modern Varanasi surprise amidst the old heritage?

Another face of Varanasi is also visible in Jessica's video. On one hand there are centuries-old streets, temples and ghats, while on the other hand modern cafes and international brands have also become a part of the city. This contradiction makes Kashi different. The city is also constantly changing with its religious and cultural identity. Many travelogues and studies written on Varanasi also present a picture of this old and new city going hand in hand. 

What effect did the love received from Indians have?

While wandering through the ghats and streets, Jessica met many local people. She also made the behaviour and conversation of Indians a part of her experience. According to her, it is not easy to understand India only on the basis of pictures seen on social media. In her experience, it is important to come to this environment yourself to understand the culture and people here.

What did Jessica learn from Banaras?

For Jessica, the biggest lesson of her trip to Varanasi was probably accepting the impermanence of life. After seeing life, faith and death together on the banks of Ganga, her attention was drawn to the fact that what matters more is how life is lived, rather than how long it is. The speciality of Varanasi is that from the morning aarti to the last rites, different aspects of life are seen at one place. For this reason, this trip to Kashi for Jessica went beyond a normal travel vlog and became an experience of introspection.