Scarlett Johansson snaps up celestial 'Ganga Arti'

Varanasi, Feb 23 (UNI) Hollywood actor Scarlett Johansson, recently voted as the sexiest celebrity by Playboy magazine, relished the celestial Ganga Arti and plunged into spiritualism at Sarnath during her three-day charity trip to the holy city.

The 22-year-old BAFTA winner, who shot to fame as Grace Mclean in Robert Redford's 1998 blockbuster 'The Horse Whisperer' arrived in the city on Wednesday.

She enjoyed the celestial Ganga Arti at Assi Ghat with a boat ride on the sacred river, sources at the hotel where the Sagittarian stayed, confided.

The blonde starlet was in the neighbouring Ghazipur district yesterday to mingle with the impoverished lot as part of international aid agency Oxfam's project aimed at helping the poor in India.

The star who also has two Golden Globe nominations under her belt and features in Justine Timberlake's new video 'What Goes Around,' capped her visit to the city by absorbing the spiritual somnolence of Sarnath -- the place where Buddha delivered his first sermons.

The actor, who has starred in Girl with a 'Pearl Earring', 'Ghost World', 'Match Point' and 'The Black Dahlia', left Varanasi this afternoon -- ducking the media spotlight.

Voted in 2006 as the 'Sexiest Woman Alive' by Esquire, the New York-based actor met school and slum children in New Delhi as part of the Oxfam project on Monday.

Earlier in November last year, Hollywood hunk Brad Pitt had taken time out to chew Banarasi Paan, relish frothing lassi and a game of chess on the Ganga ghats at Varanasi.

The 'Troy' and 'Mr and Mrs Smith' actor also videographed various locations on the majestic riverfront, which his local hosts claimed was part of his serious plans to shoot in Varanasi by next year.

UNI