VIJAYAWADA: Durga Ghat, which was the centre of action for several religious ceremonies and considered sacred with thousands of pilgrims taking a holy dip in Krishna River, is going to perish and in its place, a modern riverfront developed by the Chinese company will come up.
Officials opine that once the riverfront is developed, citizens of Vijayawada and those visiting it will have a place to relax on the banks of Krishna River. But, the public opinion is different. They feel that removing a bathing ghat used for religious purposes and shifting places of rituals like offering of tonsured hair, pinda pradanam etc. away from the ghat, that too at the time of Krishna Pushkarams is improper.
There is a belief among the devotees that a dip in the Krishna River at the Durga Ghat located at the feet of Goddess Kanaka Durga temple located atop Indrakeeladri Hill, abutting the Durga Ghat will wash away their sins and end the cycle of rebirth.
There is a sentiment attached to the place among the devotees, given its proximity to the temple. “Most consider it as a sacred ritual to take a bath in the river at the ghat before proceeding to the temple directly from there and some do it in wet clothes,” Vishnubhotla Siva Prasad Sharma, head priest of Kanaka Durga Temple said. “It is not just Maa Durga Ghat for most of the devotees, but also Maa (ours) Durga Ghat,” he says.
Now all that seems to be history, with the Government deciding to have a well-developed riverfront replacing the Durga Ghat. In fact, at the place where Durga Ghat is located presently, a huge pillar of Kanaka Durga Flyover is expected to come up.
“It will not be the same. Every year, I come here with my family to have a holy dip. Bathing elsewhere in Krishna does not gel with me. I prefer to stay at the old Durga Ghat. All it could have is a pillar, what is wrong with it?” says B Sivarama Krishna.
China’s Guizhou International Investment Corporation (GIIC) was entrusted with the task of developing Durga Ghat and Krishna - Godavari confluence point at Ferry for Krishna Pushkarams. As of now, the Chinese company officials submitted designs to develop the river bank at Prakasam barrage downstream too on the lines of development of Godavari riverfront during Godavari pushkaralu, covering a total length of 13 km.
Officials are busy identifying and removing the encroachments along the river course right from Ferry village. Simultaneously bathing ghats and parks would be developed to beautify the riverfront. More focus is on making it a tourist spot with amusement parks and food courts than giving it a religious ambience.
Venue for Teppotsavam, Krishna Harathi
Since ages Teppotsavam has been performed at Durga ghat. Processional idols of Goddess Kanaka Durga along with Her Consort Lord Malleswara Swamy is taken on a ride in Teppa (float) designed in the form of Hamsa on Vijaya Dasami. People congregate at the ghat and on Prakasam barrage in large numbers to witness the event. It is the same case with weekly Krishna Harathi given to the River at the ghat.
No Rebirth
It is believed that bathing at Durga Ghat would wash away sins and one can get moksha without any rebirth.
Rituals @ ghat Tonsured hair Pinda pradanam