After having made its intentions clear that it will go all out to dig out the mythological Sarasvati river, the BJP-led Haryana Government is all set to celebrate three-day Sarasvati Mahotsav starting on the occasion of Basant Panchmi on February 12.
The three-day Sarasvati Mahotsav would be celebrated in three districts, namely Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra and Kaithal, in which information regarding Sarasvati would be given to people and literature would be distributed.
The Sarasvati river, considered sacred in Hindu religion, finds mention in ancient Hindu scriptures like the
Rig Veda, Mahabharata, Ramayana and others, giving credence to the belief that it existed during those times.
The Chief Minister Manohar lal, who has been a Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) ideologue, and other BJP ministers have been quite inclined to dig up the mystery behind the mythological river, given its significance in Hindu mythology.
The State Government has decided that the scholars would inform people about the findings done so far about the Sarasvati river during the Sarasvati Mahotsav.
Making efforts to convert mythology into reality for the people of the state since it came to power in Haryana, the Manohar lal Government had constituted Haryana Sarasvati Heritage Development Board (HSHDB) with an objective to initiate, promote and support research in the field of Sarasvati heritage and also to assist in its preservation and restoration of the mythological river.
The Board will publish books, journals, monographs and biographies of scholars who have contributed to the study of Sarasvati heritage. The Centre had earlier announced to provide financial assistance of Rs100 crore for the setting up of this Board.
The State Government has also made a provision to keep books, research papers and other materials related to Sarasvati river in district libraries of Kurukshetra, Kaithal and Yamunanagar so that information pertaining to the river could reach the masses. In this direction, digital libraries would be set up in these districts.
The controversy about the existence of Sarasvati river has been lasting for a long time. The previous Congress led State Government had in 2009 claimed to have traced the course of the river.
As per the State Government officials, the Sarasvati river had dried up centuries ago and had gone missing from all maps. The mention of the Sarasvati river comes in the 'Vedas'. Mythology has it that the 'Vedas' were written on the banks of the sacred river, which, according to Hindu religious beliefs, is believed to flowing underground now.
Traces of Sarasvati river are found in the holy city of Kurukshetra. It is believed that the river once flowed through Thanesar, the capital of erstwhile Harshvardhan's kingdom, which is located close to Kurukshetra. legend has it that the Sarasvati once fed two wells known as Kapalmochan and Ranmochan in which the Pandavas had taken bath, as per the State Government officials.
If revived, Sarasvati may boost the state's religious tourism besides quenching the thirst of villages located on its course.
The HSHDB had exhibited evidences related to Sarasvati river based on GIS mapping, Geological, Hydrological and Archeological during the Geeta Jayanti celebrations held at Kurukshetra from December 17 to 21 in the state. An exhibition on Sarasvati Heritage was displayed at Kurukshetra on Geeta Jayanti.