Narmada Uttarvahini Parikrama: Collector urges devotees to avoid weekends as thousands left stranded due to massive rush

The 14 kilometer Narmada Uttarvahini Parikrama — which is held in the Hindu Chaitra month — commenced on March 29 and will go on for another fortnight until April 27. However, unprecedented footfall on Saturday, owing to Purnima (full moon night), as well as Sunday due to a long weekend, meant that the number of boats, meant to help devotees cross a river stretch of the Parkirama, fell short. Thousands of devotees, who arrived at the Rampura, Keedi Makodi ghats were either stranded due to shortage of boats or forced to return without performing the Parikrama.

The boating facility was also overcrowded. (Express photo)

To make up for the shortage of boats, the Narmada district administration pressed buses from the Statue of Unity into service to ferry the passengers over from Rengan Ghat, where the boating facility was overcrowded.

Traffic snarls

Traffic jams up to four kilometers near the starting point of the Parikrama blocked the Dabhoi-Ekta Nagar highway, prompting the Narmada District Superintendent of Police Prashant Sumbe to visit the spot Sunday.

Sumbe told The Indian Express on Monday, “The crowd was unanticipated on Saturday and Sunday. I stayed put at the spot from 11pm on Saturday to 11 am on Sunday, to ensure that no untoward incident occurs.”

“We have also decided to add more infrastructure for the remaining days to ensure that we are able to handle such situations if needed. Meanwhile, similar to the Kumbh Mela, we have also urged people not to choose weekends for the Parikrama,” Sumbe said.

The district administration and police closed the way to the three main ghats to prevent more crowds from gathering at the spot. Apart from the boats, the free food service provided to the devotees at the Parikrama also proved to be insufficient with the organisers running out of meals. Overcrowded canoes were seen ferrying passengers without life jackets, causing much concern in the area.

A senior official of the district administration told this newspaper, “As against about a lakh devotees everyday, we saw a sudden surge of devotees beginning Friday night owing to Chaitra Purnima on Saturday that coincided with the weekend. The rush continued until Saturday evening and by then, the situation had turned unmanageable and also dangerous. Close to three lakh devotees had gathered by Saturday.”

“The police teams were rushed to control the crowd and the roads were closed to prevent further crowding. Many people had to return without making it to the ghats… We also had some angry devotees vandalising the government banners at the ghat where arrangements were made to serve the devotees…” the senior official said.

District Collector SK Modi, issued a video message, urging devotees to pick weekdays for the visit. Modi said, in the video, “It is my request to the devotees coming for the Uttarvahini Parikrama to not come over on weekends but choose weekdays or even nights to perform the circumambulation… We can serve you better and offer you the best facilities that have been set up…”

“We have witnessed a massive rush during the weekend but if you visit during the weekdays, we can assure you that you can comfortably, peacefully and devoutly perform your Parikrama and we will be here to assist you,” said Modi in the video.

Know about the ritual

At one end, the Uttarvahini Narmada Parikrama begins at the Rampura ghat from where one must proceed to the riverbank at Tilakwada crossing a temporary bridge at Saherav and then reach Rengan ghat to cross the river in a canoe to complete the circumambulation. At the other end, the Parikrama begins in Tilakwada and passes through Rengan, Rampura Shaherav and ends at Tilakwada. On each side of the river, the devotees complete a seven kilometer stretch — making a total of 14 kilometers of the circumambulation. This year, the Gujarat Pavitra Yatradham Vikas Board has established temporary facilities at the riverbanks, under the directions of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, who also visited the Parikrama and assured of “permanent facilities”.

Among the facilities set up this year are the large pavilions, seating areas, barricading for boat queues, toilet blocks, lights, changing rooms, medical booths, public address system, drinking water, CCTV, warning boards, parking areas, food stalls and watch towers.
Emergency equipment to assist in case of tragedy have also been provided to the local volunteers at the spot.