Here is your paragraph on Chaturmasa:

The ‘Chaturmasa’ commences with the eleventh day of the waxing fortnight of Ashadha (June/July) called Shayani, the ‘sleeping’ and ends with the eleventh day of the waxing fortnight of Karttika in the fall, called ‘Prabodhini’, the “Walking”.

Soon after the hot season, the monsoon season starts and as known for its good sleeping weather. According to Hindu tradition, this is a season when Vishnu goes to sleep.

In this season laity and renouncers alike may undertake special observances and abstinences, such as giving up certain foods. Because of the sleep of Vishnu, this is not a season for auspicious rites of the life cycle, such as marriages.

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This monsoon months bring a new influx of saints to Banaras. These world renouncers, who ordinarily move from place to place, avoiding the attachments of settled life, spend the monsoon months in one place, following the ancient practice common to both the Hindu and Buddhist traditions.

These months bring swarms of small creatures to life, which the itinerant monk, especially the scrupulous Jaina, would not wish to crush underfoot on the path. This is the time to observe the rainy retreat i.e. ‘Chaturmasa’, the “four-months” retreat. On several occasions, the Buddha, himself spent the Chaturmasa in Kashi.

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Karttika is one of the three sacred months for bathing in Kashi and Panchaganga is the place prescribed. On the eleventh day of the waxing fortnight of this month the Chaturmasa, the “four months” retreat, comes to an end. Vishnu wakes up from his slumber on this day, called Prabodhini, the ‘Walking’. During the five days from the eleventh to the full moon, the ghat is teeming with morning bathers who make a point of coming everyday during this auspicious time. And they stop at Bindu Madhava at the top of the giant steps for the darshana of Lord Vishnu, fresh from his month of sleep.

During this time, Panchaganga Ghat is in its glory. Hundreds of “sky lamps” are hung each evening in little wicker baskets at the tops of tall bamboo poles and the great conical stone lamp holder, which rises above the ghat and holds hundreds of wicks, is lighted. These lights, it is believed, brighten the way for the dead as they return to the world of the ancestors after their yearly visit to earth.

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