Shree Kashi Vishwanath Dham is Plastic-Free Zone | 21 Aug 2025
Why in News?
The Shree Kashi Vishwanath Dham in Varanasi was officially declared a plastic-free zone from 11th August 2025.
Key Points
- About: A series of measures were introduced to eliminate plastic use within the temple premises, making it a model of sustainability and eco-friendliness.
- Initiative and Ban: Following a complete ban on single-use plastics ahead of the Shravan month, the authorities at Kashi Vishwanath Dham have also imposed a blanket ban on plastic utensils used for carrying water, milk for offerings, and plastic baskets used for carrying flowers and other worship materials.
- Eco-Friendly Alternatives: To support this initiative, vendors were provided with eco-friendly baskets made of bamboo strips and stainless steel along with other metal utensils.
Shree Kashi Vishwanath Temple
- Location: Varanasi, on the western bank of the Ganga River, India’s holiest river.
- Significance:
- Oldest surviving city and cultural capital of India.
- It enshrines the Jyotirlinga of Shiva, Vishweshwara (Vishwanath), which is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas.
- The temple has been a spiritual center for many great saints such as Adi Shankaracharya, Ramkrishna Paramhansa, Swami Vivekananda, Goswami Tulsidas, Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati, Gurunanak, etc.
- Temple Construction:
- Built in 1780 by Maharani Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore.
- Naubatkhana (Naqqar Khana) was added in 1785 by Collector Mohd. Ibrahim Khan (at the behest of Governor General Warren Hastings).
- In 1839, Maharaja Ranjit Singh donated gold to cover two domes; the third dome remains uncovered.