As used in many parts of South Asia, the term ghat (Bengali: ঘাট ghaţ, Hindi: घाट "steps") refers to a series of steps leading down to a body of water. In Bengali-speaking regions, this set of stairs can lead down to something as small as a pond or as large as a major river.
In English- and/or Hindi-speaking areas 'ghats' refers to the areas, in the holy river-side cities like Haridwar, Varanasi) where stairs exist to access the Ganges River. The numerous significant ghats along the Ganges are known generally as the 'Varanasi ghats' and the 'ghats of the Ganges'. In Madhya Pradesh in western India there are further significant ghats along the Narmada River.
Shamshan ghats
Ghats such as these are useful for both mundane purposes (such as cleaning) and religious rites (ie., ritual bathing or ablutions); there are also specific 'Shamshan ghats' or 'cremation ghats' where bodies are cremated waterside, allowing ashes to be washed away by rivers, noted ghats are Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi by the Yamuna River, and the Manikarnika Ghat at Varanasi.[1]
Other uses
In Marathi, ghat is a term for a difficult passage over a mountain.[2] One such ghat is the Bhor Ghat connecting the towns Khopoli and Khandala, on NH 4 about 80 km north of Mumbai.
In many cases, the term is used to refer to a mountain range itself, as in the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats.
References
- ^ Funeral pyre to be set up in Lahore - Daily Times Pakistan
- ^ Navneet Marathi English Dictionary, published by Navneet Publications (India) Limited, Mumbai. 400028. [1]
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