Ganges River Swells in Varanasi, Breaks 35-Year Record

Varanasi: Varanasi, the spiritual capital of India, is currently facing an unprecedented surge in the Ganges River. This kind of rise in water level after Kartik Purnima has been witnessed for the first time in the last three decades.

Although the water has not yet reached the upper road of the ghats, most of the lower ghats are completely submerged. 

Aarti Venue Changed at Dashashwamedh Ghat

The biggest impact of the rising water level of the Ganges is being seen at Dashashwamedh Ghat. The water has now reached the very spot where the world-famous Ganga Aarti used to be performed every evening.

Considering the situation, the Ganga Seva Nidhi has shifted the Aarti venue a few feet back. Priests and volunteers have also moved their platforms back for safety reasons. This change shows that the Ganges water is directly affecting the religious traditions of the ghats this time.

Boatmen's Decision: Operation of Small Boats Suspended

Due to the strong current and continuously rising water level, the boatmen have voluntarily stopped the operation of small boats without any administrative order. The boatmen say that in the current situation, venturing into the river is not safe for passengers and themselves.

Currently, some large motorboats are operating with a limited number of passengers, but the boatmen fear that if the water level continues to rise, they will have to stop these as well. This situation has deeply affected the livelihood of thousands of families working on the ghats.

Economic Crisis: Daily Income Reduced to Zero

Thousands of lives associated with the ghats of Varanasi depend on boat operations. The suspension of small boats has reduced the income of these families to almost zero. The period after Kartik Purnima is considered the peak of the tourist season, but this time the rising water level has drowned all employment opportunities.

Submerged Temples and Disrupted Rituals

The intensity of the water can be gauged from the fact that more than a hundred small and large ancient temples built on the ghats are now submerged. The domes of several temples are barely visible.

With the steps of the ghats and the platforms of the worship areas submerged, priests are having to perform rituals in alternative locations.

The connecting pathways between approximately 8 to 10 ghats have also been broken, affecting both local movement and tourism.

A Warning for the Future

Although the water level has not yet reached the upper road, the fact that the water has reached the aarti site and boat operations have been suspended is the most significant indicator in the last 35 years.

This is not merely a seasonal event, but an environmental warning—that climate change and human intervention are now challenging both the ecology and traditions of Kashi.

Reported by: Nityanand Mishra