Dusaswumedh Ghat, Benares

1834

Later hand-coloured lithograph on paper

Without mount: 9.4 x 12.4 in (24 x 31.6 cm)
With mount: 16.2 x 19.8 in (41.3 x 50.5 cm)

Plate 6 from the third part of James Prinsep's Benares Illustrated, in a Series of Drawings. By James Prinsep, Esq F.R.S. Lithographed in England, by eminent artists, Calcutta: Baptist Mission Press, [1831-]1833

Prinsep (1799-1840), an antiquary and colonial administrator was assay master at the Benares Mint between 1820-30. The lithographs published in the book Benares Illustrated were based on his original sketches of the various views of the holy city.

Of this plate he writes: "The period of bathing at this ghat lasts from the 2nd to the 10th day of the whole half of the month Jyestha. The commanding edifice in front us a Bruhmapooree or place of abode for brahmuns of the panch-dravir castes, built and endowed by Uhilya Baee. It is provided with lodging, found and attendance for 60 tenants, who are, properly speaking, not to take up a permanent residence, but to be mere passengers: this regulation is but little attended to. To the left, the brahmunical edifice or chhutra unites with Shreedhar Moonshee's ghat. The unfinished temple in front denotes the death of the Marhatta, who founded it, before it was completed...."(Source: British Library Board)

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