VARANASI, March 24 -- In a bid to ensure cleanliness and beauty of ghats along the Ganga in Kashi, the Varanasi Nagar Nigam (VNN) on Monday launched an initiative wherein it installed an 'Arpan Kalash' (urns or containers) at the famed Assi Ghat for collecting puja waste, including flowers, garlands, and other religious offerings, rather than allowing them to be discarded directly into the river. In the first phase, the civic body has decided to install these receptacles at six specific ghats. After Assi, they will soon be placed at Dashashwamedh, Raj, Panchganga, Kedarganj and Scindia Ghats. "The cleanliness of the ghats remains our priority. The 'Arpan Kalash' will not only reduce litter but also uphold the sanctity of the Ganga," said Savita Yadav, additional municipal commissioner. These ghats witness huge footfall. In fact, after a holy dip in the Ganga, some individuals tend to leave not only their clothes but also used garlands, flowers, and other worship materials on the ghat steps. Consequently, other devotees often inadvertently trample upon these sacred materials. Now, the faithful will be able to deposit these materials directly into the 'Arpan Kalash', she added. Furthermore, if any devotee inadvertently leaves clothes on the ghats, the sanitation workers stationed there will promptly collect and drop them into the containers....