Varanasi Graffiti Contest

GoVaranasi is proud to announce the graffiti contest for the ancient Varanasi.

The graffiti project “Moscow VS Varanasi. Tags of two realities” is designed to make a jump out of established boxes in our mind — about Russia, India, graffiti, creativity and cities’ environment… whatever boxes are about.

The idea of the contest is to find the best sketch for the famous Indian city Varanasi.
The contest is open for everyone from any country, the participation is free.

If you have a desire to create something really cool, to explore the depth of India, and if you don’t hold any ideologic and hygenic prejudice against Varanasi, you are welcome to send in the sketch to us!

The jury board consisting of talented and authoritative Russian pro’s in graffiti and design will choose the winner. The winner will go on a trip to Varanasi absolutely free of charge to make the painting on the wall of the Varanasi’s Main ghat.


Beginning of the contest – 25th of April, 2011
Deadline for entry – 20th of May, 2011
Travel & exe cu tion — October 2011

For more information about the contest click here

Bringing parents to die in Varanasi

Al Jazeera made a small movie about those who come to die in Varanasi.

The story is about Mukti Bhavan hospice, which provides lodging for three families who brought their old parents to Varanasi. One can stay in the hospice not longer than 15 days, because it's not like a hotel, - says the manager of the hospice

Dust storm and 1 000 baloons explosion hit Varanasi

Severe dust storm and 1 000 baloons explosion strike Varanasi as dropping temperatures by 3 degrees brings respite from scorching heat.

Times of India report, that the dust storm accompanied by light showers disrupted the power supply in many parts of city. The southern parts were worst affected as snapping of electric cables was reported in these areas. Reports of uprooting of trees and snapping of tree branches creating traffic congestion came in, even from the neighbouring districts.

Utter chaos prevailed at Azad Park in Lahurabir area when fire broke out after over 1,000 balloons exploded simultaneously on Monday afternoon.


Просмотреть увеличенную карту

To take part in the Bharatiya Janata Party's rally, one Sunita Singh along with her supporters carried out a procession from Nati Imali area. The participants were carrying 1,000 balloons. While passing through Lahurabir, they entered Azad Park to garland the statue of Chandrashekhar Azad.

In the meantime, the balloons exploded simultaneously, after which the hydrogen gas spread there. People clothes caught fire in the incident and many panicked, alleging that the bomb went off.

But when police reached the incident site, it became clear that the incident took place due to simultaneous explosion of balloons. The injured were rushed to the nearby hospital.

Cutting noise in Varanasi

Fighting the scourge of noise pollution for a long time, a local organisation - the Satya Foundation, asked the Varanasi authorities to fight the noise pollution in the city.

The website thenews24x7 says, that the Varanasi authorities assured of strict action against people making noise. Especially were mentioned 1) late night parties (are there any in Varanasi?), 2) wedding ceremonies and 3) religious programmes (are they going to cut down on the religious ceremonies?). The authorities have plans to form flying squads that would nab the noise offenders after 10 pm.
I wonder, if those flying squads would produce even more noise )

The demand from the Satya Foundation also included
- compulsory installation of noise pollution display boards at all the marriage lawns and public places through the respective police stations,
- immediate police intervention on the complaint of noise pollution,
- strict legal action under Amended Noise Pollution Rules-2010 against the offenders,
- availability of sound level decibel meters and drive against those using pressure horn and hooter.

Elephants in Varanasi

If you thought, that elephants are only for South India, if you thought, that Varanasi is all about cows, monkeys and goats, you would have been as surprised as we were, seeing the elephant walking down to the Main Dasashwameth Ghat.

It was on Shivaratri, one of the major festivals in India, commemorating the wedding of Lord Shiva. On such a special occasion they even brought the elephant there.

He was part of a huge procession, that seemed quite bizzare to the Western eye, everyone very solemn and festive, dressed up accordingly to the sacred meaning of the parade.

Fire Show on Assi Ghat

In the beginning of March, just after the big festival MahaShivaratri we witnessed a surprisingly gypsy-european, but at the same time quite fitting the spirit of Varanasi fire show at one of the most popular tourist ghats - Assi.

It was a quiet, warm and dark evening, the tourists were enjoying the atmosphere on the steps and pizza in the very decent Vaatika cafe up the stairs of the ghat, while a group of european artists performed an amazing show with fire, flying it like doing some kind of modern and ambient puja at the bank of the Ganga.

Here's the short video

Clean Ganga - joining hands on the ghats

To commemorate the World Water Day, the Sankat Mochan Foundation (SMF) -- the organisation working for the cause of Ganga for three decades through Clean Ganga Campaign-- has invited local citizens to assemble on the banks of the Ganga on and form human chains along the ghats to show their support for a clean Ganga.

SMF president Veer Bhadra Mishra, who is also a member of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), said around 75 schools and other organisations had committed to join hands along the ghats, but the SMF had invited all citizens of Varanasi to extend their support.

"It is as if the theme of WWD 2011 water for cities responding to the urban challenge has been made for Varanasi. Here in Varanasi, untreated sewage from the city flows into the Ganga, endangering the health of those who bathe in it," said Mishra. 'Attending this event is a small way for the people to show their love and devotion for the Ganga and their commitment to see the holy river cleaned," he said.


via Times of India