An Ode To Banaras

इस शहर में धूल
धीरे-धीरे उड़ती है
धीरे-धीरे चलते हैं लोग
धीरे-धीरे बजते हैं घंटे
शाम धीरे-धीरे होती है

किसी अलक्षित सूर्य को
देता हुआ अर्घ्य
शताब्दियों से इसी तरह
गंगा के जल में
अपनी एक टांग पर
खड़ा है यह शहर

These lines are an excerpt from the classic poem 'Banaras' by one of my favourite Hindi poets, the late great Kedarnath Mishr ji. I, for one, couldn't think of a more apt description for the second oldest continuously inhabited city in the world.
Yes, you read that right! Only Damascus in Syria can claim to be of an older vintage.

Speaking of Banaras, I love it like I've never loved any place! Yes, not even my beloved hometown. (Never thought I'd say that!)

Went there for the first, and hitherto, only time in May 2014 to campaign against NaMo in the General elections. Without a doubt THE best experience of my life, despite the result not favouring us!
Never felt so ALIVE as I did back then, even in the sweltering 48+℃ peak summer heat. Not even in the Delhi assembly election of 2015 where we won with a huge landslide margin of 67/3.
As they say "Some goals are so worthy, it's glorious even to fail!" 

Politics aside, there is something so vibrant, so 'magnetic' about Banaras! Though a sworn Khanabadosh, if I ever choose to "settle down", it'll have to be in Banaras.

The Ghats, the boat rides, the Dawns, the Dusks, the Aartis, the Chai Adis, the Thandai, the Paan Banaras Wala, the banter & above all the baths in Ganga! 

Everything so chilled out & relaxed. Laidback & Old school. Just the way I like it. Kehte hain kuch sheheron ka bhi apna hi ek mijaaz hota hai..
Don't know about others but it's definitely true about Lucknow (my 3rd fav. place) & Banaras; captured perfectly in Subah-E-Banaras & Sham-E-Avadh

Just realized writing this piece has made me so nostalgic. Can't wait to visit there again. May it always retain that old world charm.

Here's looking at you, Banaras..