Seminar: River And Religious Activities

Space Culture and Urban Design

Faculty Advisor: Prof. Vishal Shah

Submitted by: Hardik Gandhi

M.arch.- I; Sem. - I
 River And Religious Activities

Acknowledgement:

River and religious activities:

The topic contains the relation of river with religious activities with people of the city.

It has significance of sacredness with the people’s feelings towards religious

activities. The river is considered to be the most important feature in the Hindu
beliefs. Tapi is considered to be the daughter of Sun god and it is the most sacred
river of India. It is also considered that Tapi has more importance than Ganga.

For Surat, Tapi is the main source of origin. Due to Tapi, Surat has evolved this much
and all the important points which are now religious points, were initially important
parts of history.

Tapi has vibrant character due to culture of Surat. It is used not only for religious
activity but also for recreational activities. In this study, main focus is religious
activities performed on the bank of river Tapi.

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 River And Religious Activities

Contents:

1 Introduction,

2 History of Tapi river,

3 Importance of Tapi river as per mythology,

4 Location maps of religious places on the bank of the river,

5 History and importance of these places,

6 Issues related to post rituals,

- Pollution,
- Chaos,
- Traffic problems.
7. Conclusion.

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 River And Religious Activities

1). Introduction:
Among the most distinctive features of India are its rivers, which hold the highly
religious importance among its people. Covering the vast geographical area of 329
million hectares, Indian rivers have been an important reason for the rural prosperity
of India. Carrying a wider importance in cultural, economical, geographical as well as
religious development, the numerous river of India is of great value in India. The
rivers in India are considered as God and Goddess and are even worshiped among
the Hindus. They provide tourists a wonderful insight into the historical, cultural and
traditional aspect of India. Some of the most prominent rivers in India include Ganga,
Yamuna, Krishna, Godavari, Narmada, Kaveri and Tapi.

Religious activities, when we think of any religious activity, first glance is of riverfront
temple with pooja happening all around. Because river is always taken as the holy
place.

When we think of a river and religious activities, the 1st place comes to our mind is
Haridwar. Haridwar is a center of religious activities. On an average 10,000 people
visit Haridwar per month to get the benefit of rituals, pooja.

As per Hindu mythology, rituals performed on the bank of river are considered as
performed directly in the “swarg”. That’s why rivers have much importance in our
Hindu religion. Haridwar is considered as a divine place for rituals after death. People
go to Haridwar for “Asthi Visarjan”.
According to the legends, Tapi river also known as Tapti is the daughter of Surya (the
Sun God). Some says that Surya created the Tapi river in order to save himself from
his own intense heat. The river finds mention in the great Indian epic.

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 River And Religious Activities

Mahabharata, according to which Tapti had married Sanvaran, a legendary

hero of the moon dynasty. Tapti and Sanvaran also had the son called Kuru. It was
on his name only the Kuru dynasty started. Tapi is considered as the Goddess among
the Hindus and is worshiped among them.

The origin of Tapti river is at the Satpura range of Betul district in the Betul
central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is supposed to originating from small pond DIstrict,
at a small town known as Multai, originally known as Multapi or the origin spot of MP
Tapti. The Tapi river is considered to be the daughter of lord Surya. There is a Surat,
Purana dedicated to the virtues of Tapi, which praises the river as holier than all Gujarat
other rivers including the Ganges. The Tapi Purana has mentioned that bathing in
the Ganges, beholding Narmada and remembering Tapi, any person can be Plan showing Tapi from origin till end
delivered from all sins.

The Tapi river exist since a long and there are many stories and mythologies
behind its existence. Tapi is considered to be the daughter of lord Surya and it is
bless by lord Surya “if a person worships on the bank of this river, it will be the
considered as it is performed in the “swarg”.

Tapati, Tapti, Tapee, Taapi are the other names used for the Tapi river in
India.

Plan showing Tapi passing from Surat.

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 River And Religious Activities

2). Scope of Study:

Here is the scope of area to be considered for the purpose of studying the religious
activities. It ranges from Chowpati to Causeway. There are several religiously
important places along old city edge. These places are historical and have its own
importance in terms of religion as well as development of river edge.

Here is the location plan of few important religious places. Patali hanuman
temple, Ghanta Ovara, Raja Ovara, Dacca Ovara, Navdi Ovara, Swaminarayana
Temple are the major places located on the plan.

The area is been developed since the development of Surat has taken place
and the whole area has ancient values with special religious values.

Initially, the Macca ovara was used as the port for pilgrimage tours to Macca
and Madina. Now “Makkai bridge” is built there.

Plan showing area to be catered

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 River And Religious Activities

3). Religious Activities on the edge of the river:

The table shows the activities of
people during day, month and yearly
DAILY/ Monthly/ basis.
YEARLY
RITUALS Frequetnly
These activities show the variety
Religious Visiting Community  Ganesh puja in religious acts and relation to the
Activities temple, puja  Navaratri puja river. Actually river is considered to be
Rituals after  Muharram the most important natural resource
death  Shitala mata’s which is worshiped throughout the
pooja year.
 Tapi mata’s pooja
 Shiv pooja It actually shows the variety of
 Satyanarayana religious activities which makes our
pooja
city, rather India vibrant.
 Dasha maa pooja
 Durga visarjan
 Chhadi nom
 Vad Savitri Vrat
(karwa chowth)
 Shiva ling
visarjan during
“shravan mas”

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 River And Religious Activities

4). Development of Ovaras:

4.1). Brief history of Surat: The first of about 85 years (1573 –
1658) when under the emperor Akbar,
Settlement – 15th Century Jahangir and Shahjahhan enjoyed
peace and raise to be one of the first
Fisherman, sailors and kolis established the city. It is believed to be the old cities of India.
Suryapur.
The second of 49 years of Aurangzeb’s
In 1194 Surat was under the rule of the Rajputs but at that time Kamrej was region (1658 – 1707) when the city’s
the port and the river changed the course, and Surat became a port. The important prosperity was checked by the
Suwali was on the seashore where ships and vessels were anchored and goods were Maratha raids and by the growing
transported to Surat. importance of Bombay.
Gujarat sultanate - Gopi’s period (1496 - 1521). The third, about 27 years of increasing
disorders, when the Surat governors
At the end of the 15th century, rich Hindu trader settled in Surat name Gopi
were subjected to the court of Delhi.
and he induced other merchants to settle at Surat. During this period Surat started
developing as a port and due to this many merchants, weavers, workers, artisans Dutch came to Surat in
came and settled here and they built a large house and garden. He founded one of 1595and they fought with Portuguese
the quarters of the town called, in his honor as Gopipura. and spoiled the relation with the
Mughal Sultanate in 1608 A.D
At the time of his period once there was a very bad famine, so many people
were jobless and dying of hunger. It is said that to employ those people, Gopi Surat under Aurangzeb (1658–
enlarged and built a lake with stone and making it the chief ornament of the city. 1707)
Mughal period (1573 – 1707) Surat under Alampanah (1707 –
1759)
On March 1573, Akbar, the great Mughal king conquered Surat and it came
under the hands of the Mughal Sultanate. The Mughals ruled it for 160 years, which British period (19th century)
is divided into three sections:

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 River And Religious Activities

13th Century, 16th century, 1573 17 th century, 1707-1759

Fort was built in 1540 by Khwaja Safar to protect Surat from Portuguese. 13th Century

Fort was built on one acre land in Chowk bazar on the bank of Tapi River. It is the
Drawing courtesy: Ar. Alpa Pandya
oldest building of Surat. They had made moat around fort to protect it and a bridge
was created to cross moat.

Surrounding wall was 16.25 m high and 4.06 m thick.

Inner wall were covering inner most part of the city fabric known as SHEHAR PANA
and the outer fort wall was covering surrounding developing areas “PARAS” known
as “AALAM PANA”.

Following are few maps showing development of Surat city:

This inner wall has gates which were opening on river bank for trading in 18 th century
which were known as BANDAR.

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These gates were later on used for human interference instead of trading in 19 th
century and people started identifying these BANDARS as OVARA in Gujarati.

These ovaras are very much important for the religious view. They have very
significant temples which we don’t find anywhere in the city: Satyanarayana temple,
Tapi mata temple and many more.

The figures show 17th century and 19th century development. Red spots shows
the ancient developed area and the below one shows its development for the
betterment and the river edge respond to the ovaras.

And in the end of the 19th century, bridge was constructed and two separate
areas were connected.

In ancient time, Chowk fort was used as the “maidan” for the loading and 17th Century

unloading the goods. Right now it is used as the notary area for legal process.

19th Century

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 River And Religious Activities

5). Talking about Ovaras:

i) Navadi Ovara:

Navadi ovara is the most active ovara amongst all ovaras. The ovara majorly
is used for: Shitala Mata’s Pooja, Tapi Mata’s Pooja, Shiv Pooja, Rituals After Death,
Satyanarayana Pooja, Dasha Maa Pooja, Ganesh Visarjan, Durga Visarjan, Chhadi
Nom, Vad Savitri Vrat (Karwa Chowth), Shiva Linga Visarjan during “Shravan Mas”
throughout the year. It is also used for parking on working days. The ovara is also
used for gathering activity during evening for the youngsters.
Source: Self study (Navadi Ovara plan and
There are main two temples: Jalaram temple and Sai temple.
section)

1 Ovara

2 Slope used as parking

3 Plaza used as parking

4 Jalaram Temple

Plan showing Navadi ovara.

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 River And Religious Activities

ii) Raja ovara:

This ovara is the most important ovara amongst all. It has a temple of Tapi Mata
on its edge: the only temple which has the real and ancient idol of Tapi Mata. It
was also being used as the loading and unloading place.

Source: Self study

Plan showing Raja ovara.

iii) Ghanta ovara:

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It is considered to be the most ancient of all ovaras. Actually, it was built for the
loading and unloading of goods coming from different regions. If we see its image of
the ovara, there is a “ghanta (bell)” hanging on its entrance. It was being used as the
indication of any ship coming or going. Now, there are few temples on its edge:
Mahadeva temple, Satyanarayana temple and Tapi Mata’s temple.

Importance of this ovara: the only ovara having important temples and that also the
only temple in the city. That’s why few poojas happen here which has special values.

6). Issues related to post rituals

and during rituals:
 Pollution,
 Chaos,
 Traffic problems.

Due to different religious

activities and occasions, there are
many problems of traffic, chaos and
pollution.
If we take example of Ganesh Visarjan,
Plan showing Ghanta
there are 25000 idols of god is being
ovara.
visarjit in the river. This cause the
traffic and pollution in river. Before 2-3

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years, the idols of Ganesha were only being sunk in the river but now the idols of Sometimes, the idols of Ganesha or
Dasha Maa are also being visarjit in to the river. The idols if Dasha Maa is also reach Dasha maa, lies on the river banks.
upto 7000. This also harms the image and feelings
of people. We must not do such actions
This harms the ecology of river also. After every visarjan the water contamination which create a lot of troubles for the
ratio becomes 2 times strong and many species die due to this event. city.

Following are the images showing GANESHA VISARJAN and DASHA MAA VISARJAN. Actually there are some of the activists
who try to stop these events by
movements but in India, it seems to be
impossible because of too much
Source: Self study religious view and less awareness
towards ecological imbalance.

Is it we are looking for????? We must understand that these kinds of actions harm
the environment as well as the local public. As per one survey, after ganesha
visarjan, the ecological imbalance
Another aspect of the religious activities is the noise pollution. In the days of Ganesh,
creation of unwanted noise makes people uncomfortable.

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takes 8-9 months to recover and again the ganesha visarjan is on the way. So few
species are vanishing.

Another aspect is Chaos and traffic. During these visarjans, the traffic needs to be re
routed so the whole system gets disturbed. Whole core area is disturbed during these
events.

7). Conclusion:
River and religion:

After studying the above content, there

are few points which are noticeable:

 River as “mother”,
 River as the “door to swarg”,
 River as the most significant
feature out of all natural
features,

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 River provides the plaza for the “pooja” or “rituals” to be performed,

 River is attached with people as the most dominating feature for religion,

Following are few activities which are related to river and are very much significant to
people:

 Bathing,
 To worship river,
 To feed birds and animals on the banks of the river,
 To perform “yagna” and rituals after death,
 To burn the dead bodies,
 To “visarjit” things related to god or our belongings of our ancestors as it is
considered to be the “door of swarg”,

There are few Pipal trees where people

Another important aspect is tree. Tree plays an important role in religious activities.
The shade is considered to be important in terms of sacredness.

put the idols or photos of various gods

and worship them throughout year on
different occasions.

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Pipal trees are considered as the “avatar” of Vishnu as per Hindu mythology. As per
discussion with the people, I found that if the wish kept by them completes, they
keep the idol or photos of god under the tree and worship them on different
occasions.

At Chowpati, there is a tree of “pipal” where the idol of “Sai” is placed and on the Sai
jayanti, many people worship the god in natural form as well as the tree as “Vishnu References:
god”.
 “Surat Sonani murat” book,
At Ghanta ovara, people sunk the Shivalinga made up of clay during Shravan Mas.  Surat: Presented by: Ar. Alpa
Pandya,
 Photography: Self study,


Maps and plans: Self study,

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 History from Wikipedia.

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