Haridwar, Read. Harki Paidi, which has been suffering from shortage of Ganga water for five days, was once again seen bustling with devotees on Sunday. After arrangements for water were made by the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department, the devotees took a dip of faith in the Ganga. With water reaching the ghats, activities like bathing, charity and worship also started again. Due to increase in the movement of devotees, pilgrim priests and shopkeepers selling fruits, flowers and prasad also heaved a sigh of relief.
In fact, every year on the occasion of Dussehra, annual closure of Ganganahar is done. This ban continues till Diwali. During this period, water supply is stopped for cleaning and repair of the canal. Its impact also falls on the surrounding ghats including Harki Paidi. This time the water level at Harki Paidi had reduced considerably due to almost stoppage of the flow of Ganga water. The situation had become such that the devotees were not able to get enough water even for bathing. Many devotees reaching Haridwar had to take bath at other ghats.
Temporary dam built under Sanjay bridge
In order to provide water for bathing at Harki Paidi, a temporary dam has been made by filling soil in plastic bags under Sanjay Bridge. Through this, Ganga water is being diverted towards Harki Paidi. With this system, water for bathing has started reaching the ghats. After this, the movement of devotees started increasing again and religious activities also started.
Businessmen also got relief
The shortage of Ganga water at Harki Paidi had also affected the local business. Due to decrease in the number of devotees, the work of the shopkeepers selling fruits, flowers and prasad along with the pilgrim priests was getting affected. Due to availability of water at the ghats, the activity of devotees has started returning, which is expected to provide relief to the local businessmen also.
Pilgrimage priest Pandit Santosh Pandey said that there is movement of devotees at Harki Paidi throughout the year, but due to Ganga closure, the crowd had reduced in the last few days. The devotees were going to take bath at other ghats. Now, with the provision of water, Harki Paidi has regained its glory and religious activities including bathing and charity have started.
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