Located on the banks of India's great River Ganges, Varanasi is considered by Hindus to be the holiest place on earth. The eternal city of Varanasi has been a center of enlightenment and civilization for more than 2,000 years. Rituals and beliefs surrounding death by cremation and the end of the cycle of reincarnation are explored.

(25 minutes)

Segments:

Welcome to Varanasi, India (01:06)
Opening Montage (00:30)
Varanasi: Hinduism's Holiest City (02:35)
The River Ganges in Varanasi's Daily Life (02:12)
Hindu Symbolism: Shiva and the River Ganges (02:58)
The City of Varanasi (01:42)
Hindu Tenets: Karma, the Cycle of Reincarnation, and the Glorification of Shiva (03:02)
Puja: The Role of Hindu Temples in Varanasi Life (04:09)
Death Rituals in Varanasi (05:10)
Burial in the River Ganges (02:31)
Cremation (02:39)
Varanasi: India's City of Light (00:49)

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