Lalita Ghat and Kashi Vishwanath Ghat

The Lalita and Kashi Vishwanath Temples on the Ganges River form a site with great religious, cultural and archaelogical import. To create an immersive visual and auditory display to highlight the history and heritage of the temples, an outdoor facade mapping installation was designed. The bold technical solution with twelve 20K Lumens projectors installed on poles located in the river ensures full coverage of the façade of the temples and a powerful experience for the audience. The nightly show combines visuals with synchronized sound, enhancing the cultural experience along the riverbanks.

At this very special outdoor site, there were numerous challenges for the installation and content teams.

The location itself presented a major challenge as the remit was broad but no new structural changes were allowed by the ASI & Temple authority. The temples are on the banks of the river and the idea is to experience the projection mapping narrative from the river, requiring a further level of innovative thinking. The site is next to Manikarnika Ghat, one of the holiest cremation grounds, resulting in quantities of ash and dust. In addition, temperatures in Varanasi range from 8°C to 45°C, with humidity from 30% to 82% – all in all, a very tough environment. Precise alignment was also a requirement, but no 3D model or scan existed of the complex façade.

To ensure proper coverage, EDS mounted twelve 20K Lumens Epson EB-PU2220B projectors on four existing light poles in the river. EDS fitted the projectors with customized weather housings with controlled AC to counter the harsh environment.

During the rainy season the poles can be submerged up to half their height. What’s more, a stable power supply was a must to ensure continuous operation.

The base of the 16 m poles was therefore reinforced, and support structures added to counter high water levels. Steel frames were fabricated onsite to ensure stability and stay wires used so that fiber and power cables could be installed. A uninterruptible power backup system was installed to handle fluctuations and outages.

To ensure that the narrative truly enhanced the location, EDS’ content partner, Magical Theater, developed a 3D model of the buildings and numerous tests were performed onsite.

EDS deployed Dataton WATCHOUT multi-display software and WATCHPAX media servers for geometrical correction, warping, and blending, as well as show playback, and conducted iterative testing to fine-tune projector settings and match the content on the façade.

The installation successfully rises above the extreme physical and technical challenges of the location to create an enhanced cultural and spiritual experience befitting the temples, engaging and attracting visitors to the area.

EDS’ customized technology solution – based on top quality projectors and a reliable mapping and content system – makes it possible to present content innovatively, creating a memorable experience that traditional methods couldn’t match.

Rather than being daunted by the impossibles in the project, EDS recognized the creative and technical potential of the venue and utilized the power of AV technology to achieve the client’s goals. The result is a projection mapping application that combines technical precision with creative innovation and transforms the area into a dynamic and immersive environment.