Paschimavahini to get specific spots for asthi visarjan

THE Cauvery river, the vital lifeline for several districts in Karnataka, is losing its pristine condition at Srirangapatna because of a lack of a proper mechanism to control pollution, particularly that caused by religious rituals such as asthi visarjan (immersion of ashes of the deceased), which has been a long-standing tradition.

- BK LAKSHMIKANTHA @Mysuru

Authorities have now initiated steps and drawn up plans to create designated sites to conduct rituals and to divert underground drainage (UGD) water to prevent the river from getting contaminated.

Thousands of devotees from across the country visit the sacred sites of Paschimavahini, Sangama, Gosai Ghat and Snana Ghatta at Srirangapatna to perform last rites and other rituals. The river here is regarded as holy as it is a confluence and immersion of ashes is believed to help departed souls attain moksha (liberation). Incidentally, the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi too were immersed at Paschimavahini.