In an effort to quench the thirst of drought-stricken Latur city in the Marathwada region, a train carrying water reached there early on Tuesday morning and was welcomed with mantras and a broken coconut.
Local BJP politicians performed a jal puja, while Congress leaders broke a coconut before the train, an act considered auspicious in Indian culture. Interestingly, when the pandit who recited the mantras was asked about what he had uttered, he said he could not recall it but it was a prayer for peace. “We performed the jal puja as it is our tradition. We perform puja for all occasions like Diwali, Ganeshotsav so I don’t think there was anything wrong with the move. We, of course, thanked the Centre and the state government and also the people of Miraj who brought the water here,” Shailesh Lahoti, BJP city president said.
“I prayed before the train, and chanted a peace mantra. It is very common for new beginnings. The arrival of the train is very auspicious.
It will change the fortune of the city. As per the panchang (Indian calendar), good monsoon is predicted across the country,” said Raj Joshi, the pandit who performed the puja. However, when local journalists asked him to recite the same mantra, Mr Joshi could not recall it.
Immediately after arrival of the train, mayor Sheikh Akhtar, who belongs to Congress, jumped onto the tracks and broke a coconut. “The BJP is trying to take credit for the water train. But Congress and I pursued the matter and got the water to Latur city,” Mr Sheikh said.
Engine superviser Prashant Janrao said that it was a sad moment for him to carry water through wagons. “I have carried oil and other essential commodities before this. This is the first time that I am carrying water through wagons. It is sad to see the water scarcity in a small city like Latur,” Mr Janrao said.
Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samitee president Avinash Patil lashed out at the performance of rituals before the train. “It is ridiculous. The drought is not natural. It’s manmade. We need to take deliberate efforts to change the situation and now distribute water equally among the people. However, performing a puja or following any other ritual will not help the people,” he said.
