Tue Mar 25 03:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Bengaluru Holds Lavish Cauvery Aarti Amidst Growing Water Crisis
**Bengaluru, March 25, 2025** – A spectacular Cauvery Aarti ceremony, drawing parallels to the Ganga Aarti in Varanasi, took place at Bengaluru’s Sankey Tank on March 21st, a day before World Water Day. The event, attended by over 10,000 people and featuring priests from Varanasi, included cultural performances, a laser show, and a live orchestra. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar were in attendance, with Shivakumar having previously offered prayers at the Cauvery’s origin point, Bhagamandala. Holy water from Bhagamandala was distributed to attendees.
While the government touted the event as a way to foster community connection with the river and promote water conservation, the ceremony also faced legal challenges due to environmental concerns. A petition to halt the aarti was dismissed by the Karnataka High Court, with the court mandating adherence to legal provisions governing water body activities.
The choice of Sankey Tank, believed to be the birthplace of the Cauvery tributary Vrishabhavathi, highlights the river’s crucial role in Bengaluru’s water supply, providing approximately 70% of the city’s daily needs. This underscores the urgency of the situation, as the city faces a growing water crisis.
BWSSB Chairman Ram Prasath Manohar revealed alarming projections: by 2028, Bengaluru’s water demand will exceed supply by 16.38 tmc ft, a shortfall that will balloon to 48 tmc ft by 2051. These projections highlight the need for urgent and sustainable water management solutions beyond symbolic gestures.
Critics argue that the lavish ceremony overshadows the need for concrete action. Residents express frustration over frequent water shortages, even in established areas, and the reliance on expensive private tankers in many newer neighborhoods. They advocate for prioritizing practical solutions such as rainwater harvesting, pipeline repairs, lake restoration, and sustainable water management strategies.
Water conservation experts emphasize the need for a dedicated institution to protect the entire Cauvery river basin, ensuring responsible management and preventing practices like sand mining. While acknowledging the positive symbolic gesture of the Cauvery Aarti, experts urge a shift from symbolism to substantive, long-term solutions to address Bengaluru’s looming water crisis. The ambitious, yet stalled, Mekedatu project, aimed at augmenting Bengaluru’s water supply, remains a point of contention with neighboring Tamil Nadu.
First Piper 