Save river message through ‘maha aarti’ on Beas banks

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 30

In a first-of-its-kind, the state government will hold a ‘maha aarti’ of the Beas river in Kullu on January 1 to spread a message on the need for the protection of rivers. As many as 10,000 diyas will be lit on the banks of the river at Nature Park. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur will preside over the event.

The unique ‘aarti’ will be attended by more than 10,000 persons from 204 panchayats of Kullu district. The ‘aarti — Jai Maa Tarini, Maa Jai Beasa Tarni’ — has no religious connotations, but a strong message of environment protection while propitiating the river as a source of life and prosperity.

The Kullu district administration, in association with Dev Samaj, senior citizens and writers, has composed the lyrics. In line with the theme, diyas (earthen lamps) will be made of wheat flour so that the aquatic life can feed on it and they degenerate, leaving the river clean.

“Our endeavour is to create awareness about environment protection and save our rivers which are either shrinking or getting flooded because of issues like climate change,” said Yunus Khan, Deputy Commissioner, Kullu.

He said it was only with the complete community participation and a strong sense of belongingness that rivers, forests and other natural resources could be protected.

“It is for this reason that there will be participation from all 204 gram panchayats, 100 mahila mandals, 122 yuvak mandals, senior citizen bodies, ex-servicemen, pensioners and all other associations,” the DC said.

The Kullu-Manali had witnessed an exceptional rise in the water level of the Beas during the monsoon. While many vehicles were washed away in the gushing waters, the flooded river had risen above the national highway bringing vehicular traffic to a halt. “Even though the situation is already alarming, but we seem to have not learnt any lesson which is so evident from the reckless harnessing of hydro power causing environmental damage,” said Lal Chand Kaotch, a Kullu-based activist who fought the case in the High Court for stopping the Himlayan Ski Village project.

Katoch said the initiative of the Kullu administration was praiseworthy and this should become a people’s movement. Kullu district has had suffered damage on several occasions with the Beas changing its course and causing devastation, he said.