Separated waters of 5 rivers from East and West Punjab set to meet at Lahore on Nov 2

The initiative is being hosted by “Jeevay Sanjha Punjab” and “Ravi Bachao Tehreek” – the two organisations working for peace and protecting rivers of Punjab.

Written by: Divya Goyal

3 min readLudhianaUpdated: Oct 25, 2023 10:39 AM IST

Tarunjit Singh Butalia collecting water from one of the rivers. (Express Photo)

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Separated waters of 5 rivers from East and West Punjab set to meet at Lahore on Nov 2

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Come November 2, and Punjabs on both sides of the border will witness a historic day. Albeit for a few hours, “Panj-aab’, the undivided land of five rivers, will come to life again at Lahore.

In a unique initiative “Vichrae Panj Paaniyan Da Mael” (Separated waters of five rivers meet) being taken by peace activists from both countries, the waters collected from five rivers – Sutlej, Beas in Charda Punjab (East Punjab on Indian side); and Jhelum, Chenab and Ravi in Lehnda Punjab (West Punjab on Pakistan side) – will be taken to Lahore on November 2 for an emotional reunion.

Tarunjit Singh Butalia, an activist from “Jeevay Sanjha Punjab”, who collected water samples from Sutlej and Beas rivers on Tuesday, said that he would be proceeding for Lahore where volunteers have collected waters from the Chenab, Jhelum, and Ravi.

“I collected the Sutlej waters from Ropar and the Beas waters at the border of Amritsar and Jalandhar. The day of November 2 will be historic for both Punjabs when the Sanjha Panjab will come alive again as waters of the five rivers will reunite at Lahore on the banks of Ravi River,” said Butalia while speaking to The Indian Express.

The initiative is being hosted by “Jeevay Sanjha Punjab” and “Ravi Bachao Tehreek” – the two organisations working for peace and protecting rivers of Punjab.

On November 2, the water samples from both Punjabs will be taken to “Ucha Burj Lahore Da” in Lahore. Then the activists will gather at Darbar Madho Lal Hussain (dedicated to 16th Century Punjabi Sufi poet) near Shalimar Bagh of Lahore. The five water samples collected will come together here for the first time. Prayers and poetry will be offered for Punjab and the protection of its rivers, said Butalia.

At 2 pm, the procession with five water samples would leave Darbar Madho Lal Hussain with traditional Punjabi drummers. At 4 pm, the procession will arrive on the banks of Ravi River (next to the bridge on left where boat ride to Kamran Baradari goes). The five water samples will be offered on the banks of Ravi River with music.

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“Traditional Punjabi ‘qalaams’, music, poetry, and dance honouring the rivers of Punjab and their water will be presented. Bonfires will be lit on the banks of Ravi River, and activists will exchange pleasantries and try to connect with each other. Those who cannot participate physically can watch the entire programme online as it will be streamed live,” he added.

“The purpose of this initiative is to bring together the people of Charda and Lehnda Punjab to reconnect with each other to build a common future despite national boundaries and to increase awareness and respect for the waters of the rivers of Punjab – the lifeline of our homeland. We will also promote the need to protect these rivers from pollution and overuse,” said Butalia.

Divya Goyal

Divya Goyal is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Ludhiana (Punjab). She is widely recognized for her human-interest storytelling and in-depth investigative reporting on social and political issues in the region. Professional Profile Experience: With over 13 years in journalism, she joined The Indian Express in 2012. She previously worked with Hindustan Times. Education: A gold medalist in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi. Core Beats: She covers a diverse range of subjects, including gender issues, education, the Sikh diaspora, heritage, and the legacy of the Partition. She has also reported on minority communities in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Awards and Recognition Divya has earned significant acclaim for her sensitivity toward gender and social disparities: Laadli Media Award (2020): For her investigative report "Punjab: The Invisible Drug Addicts," which exposed the gender disparity in treating women addicts. Laadli Media Award (2023): For a ground report on the struggles of two girls who had to ride a boat to reach their school in a border village of Punjab. Signature Style Divya is known for "humanizing the news." Rather than just reporting on policy, she often focuses on the individuals affected by it—such as students dealing with exam stress, farmers struggling with diversification, or families impacted by crime. Her work often bridges the gap between West (Pakistan) and East (India) Punjab, exploring shared heritage and common struggles. X (Twitter): @DivyaGoyal_ ... Read More

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