Lack of basic amenities puts devotees at Godavari bathing spots in Mancherial at risk
Popular Godavari bathing spots in Mancherial lack basic amenities and safety measures, inconveniencing devotees from Mancherial and Kumram Bheem Asifabad. Devotees have sought steps, changing rooms, drinking water, sanitation and safety measures to prevent drowning at the spots.
Mancherial: Taking a holy bath in Godavari river is a customary religious ritual for devotees of not only this district, but also neighboring Kumram Bheem Asifabad especially during festivals and sacred months. But, certain popular bathing ghats or spots meant for the dip along the banks of the river have no basic amenities, causing inconvenience to the devotees.
Devotees take holy dip in Godavari river at Mulkalla, Seetharampalli, Luxettipet during sacred Shravanam and Karthika months of Hindu calendar and ahead of Diwali and Sankranti festivals, considering low level of water. People tend to have the dip in the river at these villages following the death of their family members. Some people worship the river goddess at these spots to thank her for their well-being.
However, the spots of holy baths at Mulkalla and Seetharampalli and Luxettipet villages lack basic amenities. There are no steps to ensure smooth holy dip for devotees, no rooms for changing dresses to women. There are no drinking water facilities and nor transportation. The premises of the spots are filled by dirt, graves, plastic covers, and discarded cloths and portraits of gods.
A view of change room at a bathing gjhat at Mulkalla village in Hajipur mandal. Photo: Santosh Padala
Devotees expressed displeasure over poor maintenance of the spots. They regretted that they were not only facing inconvenience in taking holy dip in the river at these villages, but also were forced to spend huge amounts to hire auto-rickshaws from Mancherial town. They stated that the spots turn slippery once it rains heavily.
The devotees further said that they were risking their lives as the spots had no safety measures to prevent drowning. They reasoned that illegal sand mining resulted in deep holes in the riverbed, claiming lives of devotees. Children and youngsters meet watery graves at the spots as they are unaware of the shallow places of the river.
Municipal officials said that steps would be taken to create basic amenities at the spots. They stated that measures were going to be taken to ensure safety of devotees by installing enclosures and signage boards preventing visitors from entering the deepest places of the river. They added that sanitation of the spots would be improved by deploying workers soon.