Cleanliness drives, rituals to save Ganga

VARANASI: Extending support to the on-going movement initiated by scientist-turned-seer Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand (Prof GD Agrawal) to save the holy Ganga and ensure undisrupted flow of water in it, thousands of people reached the ghats along the river on Sunday to launch cleanliness drives and performing religious rituals. Adarsh Bhartiya Sangh (ABS) and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Youth Brigade organised a 'Ghar se chale Ganga bhare' campaign at Dashswamedh ghat. People associated with the group carried water from their homes in urns and assembled at Manduadeeh crossing from where they reached Dashswamedh ghat and poured the water into the river. Pandit Shreekant Mishra, mahant of Kashi Vishwanath Temple, members of Gayatri Pariwar and hundreds of people of Chandpur, Shivdaspur, Manduadeeh, Lohta, Rohania, Lahartara, Cantonment, Chowk, Lanka, Sigra, Ratyatra and adjoining areas also participated in the campaign. Meanwhile, federation of social organisations, Mukti Mahasangh, formed a team of Women whistleblowers to clean the river at Asi ghat under the leadership of Anita Choudhary, president of Women's Club, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL). The Ganga bhakts, some Vedic students and residents of Siddeshwari Mohal took out a procession via Sheetla Gali, Thathery Bazaar, Chowk and Kachhauri Gali, which culiminated at Marnikarnika Ganga Kund. Placards reading 'Tehri todo, Ganga chhodo' and various other slogans were seen. Members of Maa Ganga Nishadraj Sewa Samiti organised a yajna at Deepak Bhairav temple in Shivala.