Volunteers initiate campaign to clean water bodies at Alandi

Pune, Sep. 29 (ANI): Over 150 volunteers from different parts of the country have initiated a massive campaign to clean up water body sources in order to make them pollution-free at Alandi pilgrimage site, near Pune.

The campaign named 'Jaldandi' saw the participation of people from all walks of life, the old and young alike including heads of different religious faiths, doctors and engineers.

Under the campaign, the volunteers first worshipped water and then a small palanquin with pictures of different deities that was placed a boat on River Indrayani that flows by Alandi, a prominent pilgrim centre.

Several such boats are part of this campaign with the volunteers rowing them all the way to Pandharpur, another famous temple city located on the banks of River Bheema.

Enroute, the volunteers will themselves clean up the river and spread awareness among the people residing on the banks of River Indrayani and later River Bheema before reaching Pandharpur on October 10.

The campaigners think that people will understand the religious importance of the river and be careful about not polluting it.

"Jaldandi is an attempt to cure the problem of river pollution with a spiritual means. All of us are spiritual and we are taught to consider rivers as our mothers and to pollute these is wrong and so, through this campaign we would impart the idea to the people," said Rajendra Singh, an environmentalist

This unique campaign was initiated eight years ago and since then its popularity has increased.

"This year we have more than 150 participants, 80 organisations and 21 boats participating in this campaign," said Vishwas Awale, a volunteer. (ANI)