Never Throw Offerings Into the Ganga — Use Donation Boxes

Varanasi has worked hard to clean the Ganga. Avoid throwing flowers, plastic-wrapped sweets, or coins into the river. Instead, place floral offerings in the designated bamboo baskets at the ghat steps and use the donation boxes near temples. The single-use plastic ban is strictly enforced — vendors at the ghats now provide biodegradable leaf plates and clay diyas only.