Immersion into the symbolic spaces of Banaras is a two-way, interactive process. In any ritual space, objects and offerings are first defined, assigned with meaning, and the devotee places herself in relation to the symbolic world, and invokes transformation. Hence, from the context of the Ganges, the river of healing, the floating of lamps and offerings are important ritual events.

Therefore, the project will explore how museum learners, although separated by thousands of miles, can obtain an experience of the spiritual life of Banaras - the waving of lamps in the temple, the floating of the lamps and offerings to the river of healing. Hence, we face the technical challenge of projecting a spatially distributed pilgrim into the spaces of the ghats, e.g. how can we develop tools that will, for example, allow an American museum-goer to float flowers in the Ganges, and receive the results in America. These issues challenge the design of the physical and virtual interface.