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Vinayak (Ganesh) TempleFollowing the common practice across Hindu worship of approaching Ganesha before any other deity, this small Vinayak shrine near the main Vishwanath lanes is a stop many pilgrims make right at the start of their darshan circuit, not the end.
Kashi's old city is dotted with dozens of small Vinayak shrines, each tied to a specific neighbourhood or a specific kind of prayer — success in work, removal of obstacles, a safe journey — and Siddhi Vinayak is one of the better-known of these, named for the specific blessing of "siddhi," or accomplishment.
The shrine itself is unassuming, often just a small sanctum along a lane rather than a freestanding temple building, which is typical of how Vinayak worship is woven into the fabric of the old city rather than concentrated in one grand structure.
Visitors doing a full darshan circuit around Vishwanath often stop here first, treating it as the traditional opening prayer before continuing on to the larger temples nearby.
Early morning, as the first stop before a Vishwanath darshan circuit
Commonly visited first, before other temples, following standard practice around Ganesha worship
Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Annapurna Devi Mandir
It's a long-standing convention across Hindu practice to invoke Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, before beginning any undertaking — including a temple visit — which is why shrines like this one are often the first stop.
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