In a homage to River Cauvery, the Karnataka government is set to host a grand religious ceremony at Bengaluru’s Sankey Tank, mirroring the renowned Ganga Aarti in Varanasi.
Priests from Uttar Pradesh will be specially flown in for the Cauvery Aarti, scheduled for the evening of March 21. This marks the first such initiative by the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), which began preparations at the lake on Sunday.
Over 10,000 attendees, including BWSSB employees’ families, are expected at the event, which will have no budget restrictions. Following a ceremonial procession and puja—likely attended by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar—BWSSB will distribute sacred water from Bhagamandala, where the Cauvery meets two other rivers, as ‘prasada’.
The evening will also feature a dazzling light show, laser display, live orchestra, and more. “This will be a historic celebration,” said BWSSB Chairman Ram Prasath Manohar.
Sankey Tank was chosen as it is linked to the Vrishabhavathi River, a tributary of the Cauvery, with a temple dedicated to Shri Jala Gangamma Tayi nearby. The annual Aarti aims to deepen reverence for the river, which supplies 2,225 million litres of water daily to 70% of Bengalureans.
While welcoming the initiative, environmentalists urge authorities to prioritize cleaning Bengaluru’s polluted lakes.
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