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Assi Ghat, situated at the confluence of Ganga and Asi rivers is the southernmost Ghat of Varanasi. The reference of Assi Ghats is significantly given in all the early literature of the Hindus. Assi Ghat is the place where famous Indian poet saint, Tulsi Das wrote his much-celebrated Ramcharitmanas. Constitutes at the southern end of conventional city Assi Ghat ranks first in the Manikarnika Pilgrimage. Thousands of Hindu pilgrims from all across the world coming to take their holy dip in the months of Chaitya (March/ April) and Magh (Jan/Feb). Global visitors also make their way to Assi Ghat to commemorate several occasions as solar/ lunar eclipse, Ganga Dussehra, Probodhoni Ekadashi, Makar Shankranti etc.
Assi Ghat is extensively mentioned in Hindu scriptures and mythology as matsya purana, Agni purana, kurma purana, padma purana and kashi khanda. As per legends and old beliefs Assi Ghats is the significant place where Goddess Durga had thrown her sword after slaying the demon, Shumbha- Nishumbha. For self purification and cleansing of soul people gathers in Assi Ghat for taking a dip. A shiva lingam worshipped here is the Asisangameshwar lingam reflecting the lord of confluence of the Asi, preserved in a small marble temple near the Assi Ghat. According to mythology, Assi Ghat is that place to do "Saimbeda Tirtha" as the place to achieve punya of all the Tirthas by taking a holy dip over there.
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