Red apple learning at 00:54, 17 August 2025

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Assi River
| native_name ={{native name|hi|अस्सी, असी or असि}}
| name_other = Asi River
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| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = [[India]]
| subdivision_type2 = Flows through
| subdivision_name2 = [[Varanasi]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]
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| length = 8 Kilometer
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| source1 = [[Varanasi]]
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| source1_coordinates= {{coord|25|16|16|N|82|58|38|E|display=inline}}
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| mouth_location = [[Ganges]] (in Varanasi)
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|25|16|59|N|83|00|35|E|display=inline,title}}
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| river_system = [[Ganges]]
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The '''Assi''' ([[Hindi]]: अस्सी) or '''Asi''' (Hindi: असी Asī or असि Asi [ˈʌsi]) is a small river in the city of [[Varanasi]] in the [[States and union territories of India|Indian state]] of [[Uttar Pradesh]]. It is a minor [[tributary]] of the river Ganges.<ref name=Assi2012>{{cite news |title=Source of salvation languishing in neglect |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/source-of-salvation-languishing-in-neglect/articleshow/17672069.cms |newspaper=[[Times of India]] |date=19 December 2012 |archive-date=14 July 2024 |access-date=14 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714235510/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/Source-of-salvation-languishing-in-neglect/articleshow/17672069.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> Assi River is mentioned in ancient scriptures such as the ''[[Padma Purana]]'', ''[[Matsya Purana]]'', ''[[Agni Purana]]'' and ''[[Kurma Purana]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pandey |first1=Mahendra |title=वाराणसी को अपना नाम देने वाली अस्सी नदी का अस्तित्व मिटा, सरकारी फाइल में बना दिया नाला |url=https://www.navjivanindia.com/opinion/existence-of-assi-river-on-which-varanasi-was-named-eradicated-government-files-made-it-just-a-drain |newspaper=[[Navjivan (newspaper)|Navjivan]] |date=23 June 2019 |archive-date=26 May 2022 |access-date=14 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526231131/https://www.navjivanindia.com/opinion/existence-of-assi-river-on-which-varanasi-was-named-eradicated-government-files-made-it-just-a-drain |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the ''[[Vamana Purana]]'', the river was created by the gods alongside the [[Varuna River]].<ref name=Assi2012/> The river is eight kilometers long.<ref name=story/> The Assi River is also referred to as Assi [[Nullah|Nala]] by many locals, including the Varanasi administration.<ref>{{cite news |title=खतरे में असि नदी का अस्तित्व |url=https://www.inextlive.com/uttar-pradesh/varanasi/assi-river-in-danger-1647371205 |publisher=[[Inext]] |date=11 October 2020 |language=Hindi}}</ref>

== History ==
The Assi River has its source in the southern suburbs of [[Varanasi]] near the campus of [[Banaras Hindu University]] and meanders about five kilometers northeast. Originally, it emptied into the Ganges at [[Assi Ghat]], the southernmost of the [[Ghats in Varanasi |Ghats of Varanasi]]. In 1981/1982, the course of the Assi was artificially changed, and the mouth was relocated around 500 meters to the south.<ref>{{cite news |title=Unplanned construction destroying riverfront majesty |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/Unplanned-construction-destroying-riverfront-majesty/articleshow/6020952.cms |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=7 June 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105101829/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-06-07/varanasi/28282847_1_heritage-properties-heritage-monuments-heritage-protection |archive-date=5 November 2013}}</ref>

The Assi River originates in [[Kandwa]] of Varanasi and flows through Chitaipur, Karaundi, Karmajitpur, Newada, Sarai Nandan, Naria, Saket Nagar Nagwa before joining the Ganges.<ref name=story/>

Although little more than a small trickle, the Assi River is of some importance because of its association with the Hindu holy city of Varanasi. According to traditional belief, the Assi River, along with the Ganges and the Varuna River to the north, marks the boundaries of Varanasi as a sacred space. The name Varanasi is therefore derived from the river names [[Varuna River|Varuna]] and Assi. However, it is more likely that the Varuna River alone, which was also known in older literature under the name Varanasi, gave the city its name.<ref>Diana L. Eck: ''Banāras. Stadt des Lichts'', aus dem Amerikanischen von Bettina Bäumer und Luitgart Soni, Frankfurt am Main: Insel Verlag, 1989, S. 43–52.</ref>

[[File:City older than the history.jpg|thumb|Assi River used to flowed into Ganges at [[Assi Ghat]], [[Varanasi]] and Assi Ghat gets its name from the river.]]

In 2017, a diversion was created by constructing a sewage-pumping system, resulting in a shift of the Assi River's confluence with the main river approximately one kilometer upstream.<ref name=Assi>{{cite news |last1=Kumar |first1=Mayank |title=As Varanasi's standing swells, the Assi river shrinks into a nala |url=http://thehindu.com/news/national/as-varanasis-standing-swells-the-assi-river-shrinks-into-a-nala/article66500294.ece |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=13 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212231940/http://thehindu.com/news/national/as-varanasis-standing-swells-the-assi-river-shrinks-into-a-nala/article66500294.ece |archive-date=12 February 2023}}</ref>

== Mythology ==
The river is mentioned in the ''[[Puranas]]''. According to mythological beliefs, Mahadev Kund was built at the spot where the goddess [[Durga]] threw her sword after slaying the demons named [[Sumbha and Nisumbha]], and the Assi River originated from the water that emerged from it.<ref name=story>{{cite news |last1=Kumar |first1=Rajat |title=वाराणसी की वो एतिहासिक नदी जो गुम हो गयी, अस्सी नदी जिसे अब लोग कहते है अस्सी नाला |url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/state/up/varanasi/uttar-pradesh-story-of-varanasi-famous-river-assi-rkt |publisher=[[Prabhat Khabar]] |date=14 August 2022 |language=Hindi |archive-date=26 August 2022 |access-date=14 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826150032/https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/state/up/varanasi/uttar-pradesh-story-of-varanasi-famous-river-assi-rkt |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Pollution ==
The Assi River is affected by pollution as it receives wastewater from over two dozen nalas (sewers) located in Varanasi. In 2012, local residents of Varanasi established the Assi Nadi Mukti Abhiyan, a social organisation dedicated to removing encroachments and restoring the Assi River to its original state.<ref name=Assi/>

The [[National Green Tribunal (India)|National Green Tribunal]] (NGT) established a committee to devise a restoration plan for the Assi River. The committee's mid-2021 report proposed conducting a survey to assess encroachments in the catchment area and mapping pollution sources to address the issue of sewage-related pollution.<ref>{{cite news |title=NGT forms committee for rejuvenation of Ganga tributaries in Varanasi |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ngt-forms-committee-for-rejuvenation-of-ganga-tributaries-in-varanasi/article34850523.ece |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=18 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Binay |title=Panel submits action plan to restore Varuna, Assi in Varanasi to NGT |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/panel-submits-action-plan-to-restore-varuna-assi-in-varanasi-to-ngt/articleshow/85501128.cms |newspaper=[[Times of India]] |date=21 August 2021 |archive-date=26 June 2023 |access-date=14 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626190432/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/panel-submits-action-plan-to-restore-varuna-assi-in-varanasi-to-ngt/articleshow/85501128.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2023, [[Denmark]] committed to providing ₹1,000 crores to the [[Government of Uttar Pradesh]] at UP's Global Investors Summit for the cleanup of the [[Ganges|Ganga River]] and its tributaries. However, the allocation of resources and timeline for the Assi River remained uncertain.<ref name=Assi/>
== See also ==
* [[Assi Ghat]]
* [[Varuna River]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Hydrography of Uttar Pradesh}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Varanasi]]
[[Category:Rivers of Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Tributaries of the Ganges]]

Assi River - Revision history

Red apple learning at 00:54, 17 August 2025