Tunga Aarati held in Shivamogga as part of campaign to clean river Tungabhadra

Aarati was held in the presence of Abhinava Shankar Bharathi, swamy of Kudali Sringeri mutt, people leading the Nirmala Tungabhadra Abhiyana, Shivamogga MLA S.N. Channabasappa, legislators D.S. Arun and Dr. Dhananjay Sarji, and Paryavaran Trust president Prof. B.M. Kumaraswamy.

Tunga Aarati, an event resembling Ganga Aarati in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, was held on the bank of Tungabhadra in Shivamogga as part of an on-going campaign for a clean the river. On November 10, a group of priests clad in saffron performed aarati (prayer using lamps) to the river. The synchronised offering served as a visual treat to the gathering.

The event began with blowing a conch shell, which is a custom to herald the inauguration of the ritual. Under the guidance of head priest Ram Prasad, the priest burnt camphor, followed by offering ‘aarati’ with pyramidal oil lamps, which was the significant part of the ritual.

The audience could be seen searching for vantage points to get a better view of the event. Many were busy capturing the sight on their mobile phones and cameras.

Tunga River Front Park was illuminated for the occasion.

Aarati was held in the presence of Abhinava Shankar Bharathi, swamy of Kudali Sringeri mutt, people leading the Nirmala Tungabhadra Abhiyana, Shivamogga MLA S.N. Channabasappa, legislators D.S. Arun and Dr. Dhananjay Sarji, and Paryavaran Trust president Prof. B.M. Kumaraswamy.

The seer, in his address, said everyone should take the responsibility of protecting rivers. “Water bodies had been polluted in recent years due to overuse of chemicals in agriculture.”

Shivamogga MLA S.N. Channabasappa said that the campaign aims to keep the river clean. He appreciated the efforts of people and students involved in the padayatra from Sringeri to Harihar.