Alleging that the holy river Ganga is not flowing in its full flow, saints from the Akhil Bhartiya Sanatan Sant Samaj staged a symbolic protest near Saptsarovar on Thursday. They threatened to go for infinite protest if the demand of restoring the full flow of the river is not met.
Speaking to The Pioneer, head of Bhuma Niketan Swami Achyutanand Teerth slammed the State Government for flaunting Ardh Kumbh mela as its achievement. “But such verbosity holds no meaning as the Ganga to which the pilgrims come to take dips in is not being allowed to flow freely. The pilgrims are subsequently facing difficulties to take the full dip in the holy river and perform other rituals,” he said.
He also said despite crores being spent every year in the name of cleaning of Ganga ghats, the ones of Saptrishi are never cleaned. “However, the importance of Saptrishi can hardly be exaggerated as it is the original place whence the seven streams of Ganga take their courses downstream to Har Ki Pauri,” he said.
The seer along with other saints pressed the demand to have the water level in the main stream of Ganga adequately raised.
Swami Achyutanand Teerth pointed out that Har Ki Pauri on which the focus remains riveted is a recent thing. “We cannot forget the fact that it had come up into existence years after the sages of the yore had practised austerities and engaged themselves in worshipping Ganga at Saptsarovar. This fact can hardly be relegated to the background while drafting plans for cleansing Ganga and the like,” he added.
Notably, Sapsarovar is nearly 10 kms away from Har Ki Pauri towards Dehradun.