First time in 139 years, Nashik's sacred Ramkund dries up

NASHIK: Ramkund, the sacred bathing ghat on Godavari and the epicentre of the Kumbh Mela in Mahrashtra, has dried up after 139 years. Thousands of pilgrims will have to skip taking a holy dip in the ghat on Gudi Padwa on Friday unless the municipal authorities somehow manage to replenish the waters.

Referring to the Nashik Gazette, social activist Devang Jani said that in 1877, except for the Laxmankund ghat, the entire stretch of the Godavari river, including Ramkund, had gone dry.

Satish Shukla, chairman of the Purohit Sangh (priests’ organisation), said Laxmankund had water in 1877 because of its many live streams. “The water at Laxmankund was used exclusively for drinking. Back then, no one was allowed to dip their feet or wash their hands or faces at the ghat,” he said. The Purohit Sangh has appealed to the Nashik municipal commissioner to replenish Ramkund at least for the minimum rituals that need to be performed on Friday.
Shukla has asked the municipal corporation to stop the boating activities at Gandhi talav and transfer the water to Ramkund instead.

“Alternatively, the corporation can draw water from the seven wells concealed in concrete near the Ekmukhi Datta Mandir. The wells were closed as many people had drowned there in the past. We are not opposed to the use of borewell water either,” he said.

Shukla lamented that the Aruna river, which meets the Godavari at Indrakund and later flows into Ramkund, has disappeared due to concretisation. “If this river is revived, Ramkund will get a sufficient flow of water,” he said.

Another priest Vijay Parashare said cleaning the silt at Laxmankund would also bring in water from the natural live streams. Speaking to TOI, Gedam said, “We are open to suggestions from the priests. The removal of concrete can also be considered. However, if the natural springs are not exposed even after removing the concrete, the entire exercise will be futile.”

Earlier, it was believed that Ramkund was sacred for immersing mortal remains. Now, however, remains are immersed in artificial ponds that were created just over a year back. A civic engineer said that Ramkund was emptied of the little water it had during a cleaning operation. “However, the Gangapur dam has insufficient water to release into the river and hence Ramkund remains dry. But we can fill it from other sources,” he added.