Karnataka :

This initiative, spearheaded by the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), marks a first-of-its-kind religious ceremony at Sankey Tank, which began its preparations on March 16.

In a tribute to the River Cauvery, the Karnataka government is organizing a grand religious ceremony called the Cauvery Aarti at Bengaluru’s Sankey Tank, inspired by the famous Ganga Aarti in Varanasi. Scheduled for the evening of March 21, this event will see priests flown in from Uttar Pradesh’sVaranasi. 

Sankey Tank was chosen for its significance as the birthplace of Vrishabhavathi, a tributary of Cauvery, and for its reputation as the cleanest lake in the city.

The Cauvery is crucial for Bengaluru, supplying around 70% of the city’s daily water demand, amounting to 2225 million liters. Though there is a debate over whether Vrishabhavathi originates from Sankey Tank or the Nandi Statue at Basavanagudi’s  Bull Temple, authorities decided to hold the event at Sankey Tank, rejecting other venues due to space and water quality concerns.

The ceremony, expected to attract over 10,000 people, including BWSSB employees and their families, will feature a procession and pooja, likely attended by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar. Following the rituals, water from Bhagamandala, the confluence of the Cauvery and two other rivers will be distributed as ‘Prasada’ to the attendees. 

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