A ghat full of washrooms

VARANASI: Climbing up the concrete steps of one of the biggest and spacious ghats lying adjacent to the Manikarnika Ghat (one of the prominent cremation ghats in the city), one may be surprised to see a series of perforated washrooms being converted into places for dumping debris of broken wooden pieces of boats. Similarly, the cracks appearing in the cemented railings, steps and platforms also depict the pathetic condition of the Scindia Ghat, one of the historical ghats named after the Scindias.
When TOI visited the famous ghat on Saturday, the dilapidated state of washrooms (as many as six cemented and perforated washrooms) on the ghat was causing inconvenience to visitors who had to use the only functional washroom. The wooden doors of the washroom were broken and the wooden panels somehow slanted to keep the entrance and exit points covered. Some of the washrooms had been even converted into urinals and toilets, with stray animals also going there for defecation.
"The ghat would have been better off without these cemented washrooms that occupy a large space along the platforms. While the cracks have started to appear in the cemented perforated structures, they have also lost the purpose, as most of them have been converted into urinals and toilets. People also use the walls of the washroom for drying clothes, but no one dares to visit the washrooms for changing their clothes," added Vijay Pandey, a priest.
It may be mentioned here that Scindia Ghat is not only a historical ghat but also caters to a large number of devotees and persons coming for last rite function at neighbouring Manikarnika Ghat. It is one of the most prominent bathing ghats in the vicinity as the long stretch of stepped embankments along with open and wide space on the platforms and stairs give enough space for devotees to take a dip in the Ganga.
However, signs of wear and tear were clearly evident along the stairs and railings, as long cracks in the middle of stairs had appeared on the ghat. Similarly, the cemented railings were found to be de-plastered while the stepped embankments also sported uprooted stone slabs with garbage, in the form of rotten flowers, garlands, earthen cups and bowls, being dumped near them.
"The ghat already boasts of a public toilet and the efforts to make urinals under the tourism project in 2008-09 have turned out to be eyewash with the place also losing its actual purpose. The de-plastered walls, exposing the bricks, clearly tell their story. Similarly, there have been no efforts to check discharge of drains, as the dirty water is directly released in the Ganga. The regular wear and tear is also weakening the steps and platforms and the ghat needs urgent restoration and renovation work to give it a facelift," said Kallu Majhi, one of the local boatmen.
It is also worth mentioning that the ghat was included in the seven prominent ghats of the city under 'Revitalisation of Varanasi' project of the tourism department. The erection of public toilet was also the part of renovation and beautification plan to end the spate of defecation along the stairs and platforms, enough to make the ghat unhygienic and filthy.
Significance of Scindia Ghat
Scindia Ghat (also called Scindias and Shinde) borders Manikarnika ghat in the north, with its Shiva temple (called Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple) lying partially submerged in Ganga as a result of excessive weight of the ghats' construction, about 150 years ago. The ghat is named after the Scindias who built it. Above the ghat, several of Kashi's most influential shrines are located within the tight maze of alleys of Siddha Kshetra (Field of Fulfillment). According to mythology, Agni, the Hindu God of Fire, was born here. Hindu devotees propitiate at this place to Vireshwara, the Lord of all heroes, for a son.