The streets of Varanasi, India, are a maze of activity. Colorful, time-worn buildings frame the busy narrow streets. Carts of vegetables, mounds of marigold flowers, and stacks of tourist trinkets line the roads. The air is filled with the sound of bells and the smell of sweet chai tea. Cows and monkeys wander past as the people go about their business.

For centuries, Varanasi, one of the oldest cities in the world, has been a cultural center in India. The city is famous for its silk fabrics and fragrant perfumes. It also serves as a place of learning, and its universities are well known. However, what the city is most notable for is its rich religious history. In India, many people practice a religion called Hinduism. For Hindus, Varanasi is a holy city on a sacred river.

Varanasi is located on a bank of the Ganges River, also known as the Ganga. Hindu legend says that the Ganges flowed out of a knot in the hair of a god named Lord Shiva. Whatever its origin, the river has long been a source of life for the many people who live near it. The city's access to this river draws visitors from across India and the world.

People who come to Varanasi for religious purposes are often referred to as pilgrims. More than two million pilgrims visit Varanasi each year, providing important revenue for the city's economy. For many pilgrims, the journey to Varanasi is a once-in-a-lifetime event. They come to pray or perform rituals in one of Varanasi's temples or at one of many spots at the edge of the Ganges.

All along the banks of the Ganges, concrete and stone staircases, called ghats, lead down to the river. There are more than eighty of these staircases in Varanasi, stretching over several miles. From the base of the ghats, pilgrims release floating oil lamps and marigold flowers into the river. Some pilgrims bathe in the river while others drink its water. Boats of all shapes and sizes launch from the ghats and take visitors along the Ganges. On special "burning ghats," the dead are publicly cremated, and their ashes are scattered in the river. Around these ghats, thick smoke often fills the air.

While the Ganges is a symbol of purity, near Varanasi the river is anything but clean. Its pollution endangers the well-being of the millions of people who rely on it. Untreated sewage, or waste water, is the main source of the river's pollution. This sewage makes many people sick each year. For years, India has been committed to a far-reaching program to clean up the river. Removing pollution and rerouting waste water will take time, but there is hope that India's continued efforts will someday result in a clean Ganges for the people of Varanasi and all of its visitors.

What is the text mainly about?
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It is about Varanasi, which used to be a religious center, but is now known for its silk products.
It is about Varanasi, which used to be a religious center, but is now known for its silk products.

It is about the Ganges, which used to be polluted but is now a clean, restored waterway.
It is about the Ganges, which used to be polluted but is now a clean, restored waterway.

It is about Varanasi, a city on a sacred river that is visited by many pilgrims each year.
It is about Varanasi, a city on a sacred river that is visited by many pilgrims each year.

It is about the Ganges, a river that runs through much of the country of India