ABSTRACT
Varanasi represents a unique confluence of river, religion, and city. An ancient city revered as a holy city by Hindus, Varanasi displays magnificent material heritage in the ghats (riverfront) built on the banks of the sacred river Ganges, where Hindu rituals like Ganga Aarti are performed every day. Varanasi has also been a symbol of Hindu-Muslim co-living for cen- turies, demonstrating the heritage of cultural and communal harmony in multiple arenas—from music to weaving. However, the core elements of this iconic river-city, which constitute the identity of Varanasi, are threatened today as inter-community relations become strained, material and cultural heritage are endangered, and the pure sacred river inches toward extinction due to severe pollution.
