Modern Touch to Ancient Tradition: Floating Jetties on Ganga in Varanasi
Devotees to bathe, change, and worship on specially designed platforms
BY RATNESH RAI
Taking a holy dip in the Ganga, offering prayers to Maa Ganga, and visiting Baba Vishwanath is a centuries-old tradition in Kashi. Now, devotees will soon be able to do all this with greater ease, thanks to a unique initiative of the Yogi government — hexagonal-shaped floating jetties on the Ganga.
These special jetties will come with changing rooms and a small place of worship, making it convenient for devotees to bathe, change clothes, and perform rituals without having to move around. Boats will also be able to dock directly at these platforms.
Officials said the hexagonal design has been chosen so that the natural flow of the river is not disturbed. Each jetty will have a shed-covered worship space, four changing rooms, double railings for safety, and a double-layer HDPE pontoon to keep it steady in water.
“After successfully trying out floating changing rooms at eight ghats, we are now setting up four advanced floating jetties with both worship and changing facilities,” said Smart City Chief General Manager Amarendra Tiwari.
Work on the project will begin once the water level of the Ganga comes down. Each jetty, spread across 73 square meters, will cost about ₹1.87 crore.
Officials say these floating jetties will be a perfect example of how modern technology and tradition can come together — ensuring convenience for devotees while keeping the Ganga clean and uninterrupted.
