The Prachi river in Odisha, much like its counterparts across India, holds deep spiritual significance, intertwined with ancient legends and tales of yore. Yet, the relentless onslaught of modern-day pollution has cast a shadow over this sacred waterway, which is believed to have nurtured a civilisation older than Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro.
Stretching over 78 km with a catchment area spanning 600 sq.km, the Prachi meanders through the districts of Puri, Khurda, Cuttack and Jagatsinghpur. Its mythological origins are steeped in the lore of goddess Saraswati, who, in a bid to quell a raging inferno threatening three worlds, sacrificed herself, emerging as the lifeblood of the river.
Thus, Prachi, meaning “east” in Sanskrit, embodies the divine essence of her journey, with deities themselves residing on her hallowed banks.
However, the once-glorious Prachi now languishes in neglect, its waters dwindling to a mere trickle. To combat this descent into oblivion, an initiative known as Prachi Parikrama was born in 2012 under the guidance of spiritual guru Paramahamsa Prajnanananda and the Prachi Parikrama Charitable Trust.
Prachi parikrama, a spiritual eco-activism initiative
Each year, the guruji and over 300 volunteers and disciples embark on a seven-day pilgrimage, traversing more than 110 km to pray for the river’s revival.
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The 13th edition of this sacred journey, held from February 29 to March 6, unfolded as a symphony of devotion and activism. Beginning at the Andha Kapileshwar temple in Niali tehsil of Cuttack district, where the river’s origins are shrouded in Puranic legend, the march took off with fervent prayers and floral offerings to the revered waters.
En route, devotees congregated at shrines such as Radhakant Math, Madhaba, and Maa Mangala temples in Kakatpur, where cultural performances and historical re-enactments breathed life into the ancient folklore surrounding the river.
Amidst these rituals, initiatives spearheaded by Paramahamsa Prajnanananda and the trust, including cleanliness drives and educational programmes, aimed to instil a sense of stewardship among the masses.
For Punjab Singh Mali, the pilgrimage served as a clarion call to safeguard natural resources and support local communities.
“The real motivation for me was to raise awareness among the people to not waste the natural resources and help the farmers and communities in Odisha,” said Mali, a resident of Boston in the United States, who attended the event with his son.
Sacred waters, renewed purpose
The efforts of the trust have borne fruit, with the construction of ghats and amenities such as toilets at key pilgrimage sites, along with mass plantation drives along the riverbanks. Students from various colleges and universities, buoyed by a sense of purpose, actively participate in the circumambulation, gaining insights into the cultural heritage and ecological significance of Prachi.
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Dr Sruti Mohapatra, founder of a Bhubaneswar-based NGO named Swabhiman, emphasised the urgent need for collective action to rejuvenate not just Prachi but every dying river in India.
“In the name of development, we have polluted our rivers and because of our actions, mother earth is crying,” Mohapatra lamented.
Amidst these grassroots efforts, the Odisha government and politicians from Prachi valley have rallied behind the annual march, seeking to breathe life back into the ailing river with an estimated investment of Rs 297 crore.
As Paramahamsa Prajnanananda and the Prachi Parikrama Charitable Trust’s vision gain momentum, a groundswell of support from all corners of society underscores the collective resolve to preserve the legacy of Prachi for generations to come.
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The lead image on top shows a devotee praying for the revival of the Prachi river in Odisha. (Photo by Devashish Biswal)
Devashish Biswal is a graduate of English journalism at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal. His deep interest lies in covering human interest stories based on gender, tribal life, education, and culture.
