2-981-813 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Street in Benares, from a sketch by of our special artists, 1876. View of the '...ancient city, the venerated head-quarters of the Brahminical religion in Lower India...Vast numbers of pilgrims come from all parts of India to Benares, as it is considered a most holy spot. They visit certain temples and perform particular "poojahs" [prayers], according to their caste, in all of which there are payments to the Brahmins, so that a great deal cf wealth comes into the place. It is not altogether a city of Brahmins and Pundits, for there are some manufactures also, which are peculiar to the town, such as the making of kincob, a very rich kind of cloth of silk and gold, which forms the dresses of Rajahs and men of rank. The rich gold-embroidered trappings for elephants are also manufactured at Benares'. From "Illustrated London News", 1876.