FT | Narmada

The Narmada River Gallery

There are 7 pages in this gallery. This is page 4.

#4 Ritual

The Narmada River is the centre of the spiritual lives of all those that live along her shores, Hindu and Adivasi alike. Some Hindus consider Narmada to be even more sacred than the River Ganges and undertake a pilgrimage along her shores, an under taking that can last for three years. Many small temples will be submerged by the various dams along the Narmada's length. The NBA claim that even the historic ghat at Maheshwar would be threatened after a heavy rainy season.

Adivasi who have already been resettled away from the river in Gujarat complain that they miss the presence of Narmada. The Adivasi's informal tribal religion does not have places of worship but holds the rivers and forests as sacred.

Click the individual thumbnail images to view them full size.

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A ceremony marking the death of the head of a household in Chhota Barda, Madhya Pradesh, held on the banks of the Narmada River.

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Men performing their religious prayers and bathing at sunrise. Chhota Barda, Madhya Pradesh.

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A fire burns the possessions of the dead man after his body was buried in the river at sunset. Chhota Barda, Madhya Pradesh.

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A Brahmin pilgrim stops at Hepeshwar Temple (Gujarat) during his pilgrimage along the river. This temple will be submerged once the SSP dam reaches its full height.

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Pilgrims bathing in the Narmada near Hepeshwar Temple, Gujarat. This temple will be submerged once the SSP dam reaches its full height.

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Silt accumulating around buildings near Hepeshwar Temple, Gujarat. The near stagnant waters of the SSP reservoir allow silt to settle out. The NBA claim that the siltation rates for the SSP Dam have been miscalculated that silt will seriously reduce the dams useful life span.

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A portrayal of the Goddess Narmada at Domikhedi Village, Maharashtra. She holds a pair of scales with people in one pan and a dam in the other. The SSP dam will submerge this village.

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Maheshwar Ghat, Madhya Pradesh. This historic ghat could be flooded in a heavy rainy season according to the NBA.

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Locals marking a festival by bathing in the Narmada at Maheshwar Ghat, Madhya Pradesh. This historic ghat could be flooded in a heavy rainy season according to the NBA.

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Locals marking a festival by bathing in the Narmada at Maheshwar Ghat, Madhya Pradesh. This historic ghat could be flooded in a heavy rainy season according to the NBA.

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Pilgrims performing their religious prayers and bathing at sunrise in the Bargi dam reservoir, Madhya Pradesh. The well-trodden pilgrimage along the Narmada from its source to the Gulf of Khambat now has to detour around this huge reservoir which has engulfed the sacred river.