18 JAN 2023

Varanasi Balloon
and Boat Festival

dristi sharma

A FEAST FOR THE EYES


A Balloon and Boat Festival kicked off in Varanasi on Jan 17. It is called Kashi Balloon & Boat Festival, and is quite a feast for the eyes.

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fOUR DAYS OF FESTIvities

It is a four-day-long hot-air balloon festival and began at Varanasi’s famous Dashashwamedh Ghat on Jan 17. 

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MESMERISING VIEW

You can visit the festival and see the hot air balloons above Varanasi. The tickets for the rides, however, are all sold out it seems.

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AGENCIES FROM 5 countries

Agencies from five countries, including the United States, Japan, and Canada have been roped in for the hot air balloon fest. 

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bUT THERE'S MORE...

The fest will also have various cultural events like traditional dances. 

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The boat RACE

The boat race began at 12 noon on Jan 17. 12 teams of professional boat rowers will battle it out over 4 days for the prize: Rs 1.75 lakh. 

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A 3-kilometre WAR

The boat race, a first for Varanasi, is being held over a 3-km stretch of the Ganga, between the Dashashwamedh and Namo Ghats.

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MORE TOURISTS FOR VARANASI

Varanasi is one of the top tourist destinations in India, with more than 7.5 crore footfalls each year. The festival will help boost UP tourism.

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the first time

This is the first time a cultural landmark festival at this scale is taking place in Varanasi. All SCO countries are taking part in this event.

Photo: Twitter/@uptourismgov