A
Down To Earth Supplement Varanasi
Special Edition - April, 2002
Gobar means animal dung in Hindi. All of rural India uses it in a
variety of ways. Ways that exemplify sustainable existence. That's why
we use it, too.
COW PATS
NAMING
OUR CITY... Varanasi
has been so named because it lies between the rivers Varuna and Assi. According to a myth,
both Varuna and Assi originated from the legs of Vishnu lying at Prayag. Another myth
says, the two rivers were created to guard against the entry of evils. The northern one
was called “The Acceptor” (Varana) and the southern one was named “The
Sword” (Assi).
SMOKE
WITHOUT FIRE? Near the GT
Road is a ‘landfill’ where smouldering fires are a constant phenomenon. The
villegers living just next to it are quite habituated to it by now. Fires in dumpyards are
caused by methane gas produced by the organic waste under pressure. These fires are
extremely harmful as they burn the plastic int he waste releasing the dangerous substance
called dioxin.
EYE OPENERS
F
A C T S O F L I F E
The
world famous Banarasi silk sarees, which are warn mostly by Hindu ladies is a work of art
by the Muslims. Isn’t it a good example of brotherhood?
Varanasi has 84
ghats.
Varanasi is a city with near about 300 lanes.
A
Down To Earth Supplement
