Last Updated: September 23, 2025, 15:22 IST1 / 13 Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi holds a centuries-old tradition — after cremation, the number 94 is inscribed on the ashes. 2 / 13 Known as the oldest and most famous cremation ground in India, Manikarnika Ghat has witnessed uninterrupted funerary rites for thousands of years. ADVERTISEMENT3 / 13 At this ghat alone, the person performing the final rites writes “94” on the ashes once the pyre cools — a practice found nowhere else. ADVERTISEMENT5 / 13 Varanasi is called the Mahashmashan (Great Cremation Ground), with Manikarnika at its heart. It’s a local tradition, unique to Manikarnika Ghat — unknown to outsiders but sacred to locals.