Concerns raised over fate of holy river on Ganga Dussehra

VARANASI: While a number of programmes and events marked the celebration of Ganga Dussehra on Tuesday, the occasion also provided opportunity for taking current stock of the river that has been recently declared a national river.
A number of devout thronged the prominent ghats including Dashaswamedh, Sheetala, Kedar and Assi ghats in the early morning hours to take a holy dip in the river on the occasion.Similarly, various voluntary organisations including Bharat Jagriti Abhiyan organised Dugdhabhishek (special ceremony for offering milk to the river) with Vidhan Sabha speaker Sukhdeo Rajbhar performing the ritual at Dashaswamedh ghat.
Special cleanliness drive took place at Shankaracharya Ghat (near Kedar Ghat) where Swami Avimukteshwaranand (disciple of Swami Swarupanand Saraswati) along with a number of residents in the area offered voluntary services. Similarly, Ganga Mahasabha, voluntary organisation organised a special programme where Shankaracharya of Puri, Swami Nishchalanand Saraswati held a meeting with various representatives of organisations working for Ganga in the city.
Ganga Research Centre, Banaras Hindu University organised a national workshop on Critical Mass Concept for Minimum Flow in River on the occasion.
According to UK Choudhary, coordinator, GRC, BHU, the programme witnessed discussions on the lost characteristics and minimum uninterrupted flow in Ganga apart from impacts of high dams and change in water quality in the river.
Vice Chancellor, BHU DP Singh along with Awadh Ram, V-C, Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.
Later, in the evening, special worshipping of the Ganga was performed at prominent ghats that witnessed special Ganga Arti along with cultural programmes.