Varanasi, the saintly city, is one of the most populous cities of the State of Uttar Pradesh. The State also enjoys a similar status in India. To a western tourist the city presents itself as highly overcrowded and overpopulated; people jostling each other for a dip in the muddied waters of the river Ganga or the rickshaws vying with swanky cars on the narrow roads, the city is in a constant state of overcrowding.

Social Order of Hindus

The people here are predominantly Hindus though a few Muslim pockets do exist in the city. The hindus have a strict caste system or a social order with Brahmins on the top of ladder. The Kshatriyas or the fighting clans come second in the hierarchy. The Vaishyas or the traders occupy the third place and the rest are the Shudras. The sweepers, tannery workers and all those involved with menial jobs are the fourth category. The workers who deal with the dead are also relegated to the category of Shudras.

The city of Varanasi is a mix of staunchly orthodox Brahmins, the crafty Vaishya salesmen and the pyre-lighting Shudras. The orthodox Brahmins of Varanasi would opt for another dip in the Ganges water if only the shadow of a Shudra falls on him. The tradition of orthodoxy is the business mantra of Varanasi. The Hindus from all over India look up to Varanasi as the citadel of the Hindu religion.

The Ganges An Overpowering Presence.

The people of Varanasi have a profound association with the religious importance of the river Ganga. The people from all over India come to Ganga to offer prayers and also the ashes of their departed loved ones. The full cycle of birth and death is enacted here. This has taken a toll on the psyche of the people here. You will find the cremation of the dead and festivities nudging each other. The boat which ferries the dead may metamorphose into a pleasure yacht within a matter of minutes. The death is dealt with in a cavalier manner, or may be the people have realized the importance of life.

The Common Man.

The man from Varanasi is a happy-go-lucky, quasi religious character. He is usually portrayed in the Indian movies as a betel leaf chewing, loud mouth opportunist. The people of Varanasi have a friendly nature. They will go out of their way to help a white western tourist. This again has been probably ingrained in their psyche after a long British Rule or that streak of opportunism to make a quick and easy buck.

Famous Personalities of Varanasi.

The rich and varied culture of the city has produced outstanding poets, writers and internationally renowned musicians also. Ustad Bismillah Khan and Pandit Ravi Shankar have carved a niche on the international music scene. Kabir and Munshi Premchand are a few great writers from this land of Ganges.

Certain Disturbing Statistics.

The population of the city is over two million and more than twelve percent of this live in slums. The predilection to have a male child has left the sex ratio at a dismal 881 females to a 1000 males. The crime rate is higher than the State average. The people of Varanasi do have a curious conglomeration of the spiritual and the mundane in their holy city.