Current Affairs | L2A | 21/09/2022 1) It was the first ever SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital will promote tourism, cultural and humanitarian exchanges between India and the SCO member Countries. 2) It also underlines India’s ancient civilizational links with Member States of SCO, especially the Central Asian Republics. 3) Under this program, a number of events will be hosted in Varanasi during 2022-23, for which guests will be invited to participate from SCO Member States. 4) These events are expected to attract, scholars, authors, musicians and artists, photo journalists, travel bloggers and other invited guests. 5) The regulations for nomination of the SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital were adopted at the Dushanbe SCO Summit in 2021 with an objective of promoting cooperation between the SCO Member States in the field of culture and tourism About Varanasi: 6) Varanasi was Lying in the south of Uttar Pradesh, on the banks of the holy river Ganga, inhales Varanasi, which is accepted to be the most oldest living city on the world. 7) For a really long time, the spiritualist of this spot has been drawing in explorers from across India as well as abroad. 8) CThis Varanasi city gets its name from two rivers named, Varuna and Assi which meet here. 9) Varanasi is famous for the bathing ghats along the banks of river Ganga. Pilgrims believe their sins will removed, after taking bath on this holly ganga river ghats. 10) Varanasi has the majestic river Ganga and its numerous rivulets. 11) The Ganga Aarti was held every day in evening at Dasashwamedha Ghat.