Namami Devi Narmade'-Seva Yatra is not only getting success in achieving its basic goals but yatra has become an icon of Communal harmony. On 68th day of yatra, 7 year old girl Nazneen Khan fulfilled her wish to walk along with yatra holding kalash on her head. This proved that service to Maa Narmada and to make her flow ever incessant is above religion, caste and creed.
Yatris accompanying the yatra became astonished at village Golata of district Badwani when they saw villagers making efforts to calm the small girl by offering her fruits and sweets meant for their hospitality and welcome, which she refused to take. On asking reasons, they were informed that the girl named Nazneen Khan had come to welcome the yatris bringing kalash with her from home. Some other girl has taken her kalash and she has become kalash less.
A local social activist Sukhdev Yadav accompanying the yatra immediately called one kalash and provided it to Nazneen with respect. Then Nazneen Khan participated in the yatra merrily.
An innovation was seen when yatra reached village Golata. Normally villagers used to hold Narmada water kalash on their heads. On reaching Golata the kalash was placed in palki and villagers felt the joy by raising kalash from all the four sides.
Yatra was welcomed with heartfelt enthusiasm by women, men and children at village Chhota Barda. Students with passion and zeal took out rally in identical uniforms to welcome the yatra. Decorated dry bottle gourds were hanged on the trees by the women which were looking like lanterns from far. Also attractive toran gates were installed decorated with leaves of mango and banana, colourful dry bottle gourd and corns. Walls of the houses were made attractive with pink colour and over it mural paintings in white by the women of the village. Aaganwadi workers served different nutritious food to the yatris.
At village Chhota Barda, small girls have undertaken a major work when they gave message of cashless system, sanitation, environment conservation, to quit open defecation, to make rivers free of pollution through Nukkad Natak and songs. Message full of babbling speech of girls made the villagers clapping for long time on the occasion. Girls took resolution that they will follow the message of yatra and will encourage others to follow it.
State Yatra in-charge Vishnudutt Sharma, MP Subhash Patel and District in-charge of Yatra Bhupendra Arya held dialogues with the villagers of Golata, Chhota Barda and Anvali. They administered pledge for Narmada conservation, pollution free environment and plantation to the villagers.