'Water Woman' hails CM Yogi Adityanath for uninterrupted flow of Ganga, Yamuna

PRAYAGRAJ: Shipra Pathak, the ‘Water Woman of India,' expressed her gratitude to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his efforts towards maintaining cleanliness and the uninterrupted flow of Ganga and Yamuna during the Maha Kumbh.

Also read: Maha Kumbh stories

Pathak also actively led the ‘Ek Thali, Ek Thaila' campaign for water and environmental conservation at the Maha Kumbh.

"The level of cleanliness is extraordinary, and all arrangements are the result of efforts by a leader who, besides being a chief minister, is also a sadhak, yogi, and sanyasi. The Kumbh is very close to his heart, and no one could manage it better than him," she said.

"In Nov 2024, I walked from Ayodhya to Rameswaram. When I told people in Karnataka that I came from Ayodhya, their response was, ‘that's Yogi's Uttar Pradesh'. The fact that most populous state in India is identified with Yogi ji even in a small village in Karnataka speaks volumes about Maharajji's service, commitment, and principles," she said.

Pathak has covered 13,000 km on foot to promote water and environmental conservation. Her organisation, Panchtatva, has 15 lakh members and facilitated the planting of 25 lakh saplings along riverbanks.

"To ensure a clean Kumbh, we distributed bags, plates, glasses and spoons to akharas. Rivers can be cleaned with machines and commercialisation, but without cultural preservation, there will be no Maha Kumbh on the riverbanks in the future," Pathak said.

Pathak, who left her business and job to dedicate herself to saving rivers and forests, spoke about the significance of Maha Kumbh.

"It is not just an ordinary festival or occasion. People from all classes, communities and ideologies come together to take a dip at the Triveni Sangam, creating a unique and powerful vibration," she said.

Reflecting on her journey to becoming the 'Water Woman,' Shipra said: "Since childhood, I have had a deep connection with water. My parents named me Shipra, after the MP river. While travelling abroad for work, I noticed how clean the rivers there were, despite not being worshipped as goddesses. It made me wonder why our rivers couldn't be the same."

She added: "The Narmada Parikrama was a turning point in my life. I observed that where Maa Narmada flows cleanly and uninterrupted, people's finances, health, and development thrive. But where the river is polluted, lives are adversely affected. This realisation led to my renunciation. I travelled along the Shipra, the Gomti, and journeyed from Ayodhya to Rameswaram. Our aim is not to imagine a new India, but to preserve the essence of ancient India and pass our cultural heritage to the next generation."