Kullu administration all set for Beas 'Maha aarti' today

Shimla: Taking the cue from "maha aartis" being performed at different holy rivers, the BJP-ruled state Himachal Pradesh, has also decided to hold 'Maha Aarti' on the banks of river Beas, which originates from holi Beas Kund, located at high altitude Rohtang Pass. Seen as first-ever event, which is expected draw participation of 5,000 to 8,000 people at Kullu, maha aarti will be held on January 1, 2019.

Says Deputy Commissioner Kullu Yunus, "The idea of organising maha aarti was basically aimed to create mass awareness about the importance of the rivers in the human lives, besides creating consciousness about advising impact of the climate change threatening the existence of the rivers."

Yunus says over 5,000 to 8,000 diyas made of clay, wheat flour and leaves plates will be used to make the event completely environmental friendly. The wheat flour diyas will not cause any pollution or environmental degradations and can be useful food for the aquatic life.

The district administration has involved all the panchayats of Kullu district, mahila mandals, NGOs, religious bodies like Dev Samaj and senior citizens in the aarti event.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur may also join the event, DC Kullu informed, adding "his (CM) arrival will more depend on weather conditions on January 1,"

Minister for forest and transport Govind Singh Thakur, who is the MLA from Manali, said, "Our endeavour is to create awareness about environment protection. The rivers are also getting threatened and there is depletion of the water levels and even sometimes huge flash floods causing devastations for the people and properties on the banks of rivers." Now, this was also being planned on the first day of the New Year to ensure that the local and tourists, who take into different ways to welcome the New Year, will be lured to a noble cause.

The government, he feels, will generate awareness about protecting the rivers and taking steps to check pollution.

"Beas is a mother river and we for years have been worshiping the rivers.Kullu being land of deities has always revered the river.The occasion will be unique in many ways—religious, social and cultural," said Thakur.

Only three years back, National Green Tribunal has also imposed restrictions on the movements of the excessive number of tourists and vehicles (diesel and petrol) at Rohtang Pass.

The level of pollution and environmental degradation at Rohtang Pass was growing at massive scale forcing strict measures to regulate the movement of tourists the large-scale tourism activity. This was also aimed at keeping in view the fact that Beas river also originates from Rohtang Pass, says Kripal Thakur, a Kullu businessman.