By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Haridwar, 25 Oct: Har Ki Pauri, which had remained almost deserted for the past five days due to the annual closure of the Ganga canal, came alive again today after water flow has been restored to the most revered ghat of Ganga in Haridwar. Following arrangements made by the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department to ensure the availability of Ganga water, devotees were seen taking a holy dip in the river today. A temporary embankment has been constructed beneath Sanjay Bridge using plastic bags filled with soil to divert water towards Har Ki Pauri. With water reaching the ghats, there was visible relief and happiness among devotees, besides the teerth purohits and priests who depend on the daily flow of pilgrims for their livelihood.
It may be pointed out here that the annual closure of the Ganga canal begins every year on the night of Dussehra and continues until around Diwali. During this period, the supply of water through the canal is stopped to facilitate cleaning and essential maintenance and repair work. However, the closure also affects the water flow at Har Ki Pauri and other adjoining ghats in Haridwar. For the past five days, the flow of Ganga water at the world-famous ghat had been almost completely disrupted, causing considerable inconvenience to devotees.
The absence of water at Har Ki Pauri had particularly disappointed the pilgrims who had travelled long distances to Haridwar to take a holy dip in the Ganga and perform the ritual immersion of the ashes of their departed family members. Many devotees had arrived in the holy city with the expectation of fulfilling these religious obligations in accordance with their faith and traditions. However, the lack of water at the principal ghat had forced them to either postpone their rituals or look for alternative bathing places.
Many local priests as well as the devotees had also urged the authorities to ensure the availability of water at Har Ki Pauri for bathing and the immersion of ashes even during the annual closure of the Ganga canal in view of the fact that Har Ki Pauri is among the most important religious destinations in Haridwar and attracts a large number of devotees every day. Besides pilgrims visiting for a holy dip, people from different parts of the country regularly come here to perform the last rites and immerse the ashes of their deceased relatives. The disruption in the availability of water had, therefore, caused considerable disappointment among those visiting the city for religious purposes.
The annual closure had also changed the usual appearance of Har Ki Pauri, where the absence of the Ganga’s flow had affected the daily activities of priests and other people associated with religious services.
Though Chief Development Officer Lalit Narayan Mishra had said that, as in previous years, adequate water would be made available at Har Ki Pauri. He had stated that the Irrigation Department officials had been directed to make the necessary arrangements and assured that the requirements of devotees would be taken care of. Similarly, the officials of the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department, had also stated that adequate Ganga water would be made available at Har Ki Pauri. But this was not seen during the five days of closure.
It may be recalled that the annual closure of the Ganga canal in Haridwar begins on the night of Dussehra every year. During this period, cleaning and essential maintenance work is carried out in the canal. The water supply is generally restored around Diwali after the completion of the scheduled work.
In reality however, the water level at the ghats had fallen so low that even a small quantity of Ganga water for performing achaman (ritual sipping of water) was not available to devotees. This had not only caused inconvenience to pilgrims visiting Haridwar but had also adversely affected the livelihood of people associated with religious activities and tourism. Teerth purohits, priests and vendors selling fruits, flowers and prasad had been among those affected by the decline in the number of visitors. Consequently, both local residents dependent on pilgrim activity and devotees arriving from outside the city had faced difficulties.
With water now restored at Har Ki Pauri, devotees have expressed satisfaction at being able to resume their religious activities at the famous ghat.
Pandit Deep Adhikari of Har Ki Pauri said that there had been no Ganga water at the ghat for the past five days, but the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department have now made arrangements to ensure sufficient water for devotees to take a holy dip. He said that devotees had earlier been compelled to visit other ghats for bathing due to the absence of water at Har Ki Pauri. Although the present arrangement involved a temporary embankment made by placing soil-filled plastic bags in the river, it had succeeded in bringing enough water to the ghat for devotees to take a dip. With the restoration of water, the usual activity and liveliness had returned to Har Ki Pauri.
The priests also noted that Har Ki Pauri generally remains bustling with activity throughout the year, but the annual closure of the Ganga canal had led to a decline in the number of devotees visiting the ghat. The usual bustle has now returned, with devotees once again taking holy dips and availing themselves of religious services, including rituals, donations and various forms of worship performed by priests.
