VARANASI, INDIA, August 11, 2023 (The National News): At the crack of dawn, Pramod Manjhi, a fifth-generation boatman, begins his day by dipping his cupped hands in the Ganges river and splashing his face with holy water. Each year, at least 20 million people visit the river, one of Hinduism’s holiest, Varanasi city, also known as Kashi. The city in Northern India wakes up to saffron-clad priests praying, chanting mantras and hymns in a mystic fashion of faith. Golden sun rays light up the ghats, steps that lead down to the Ganges, the city’s focal point. The river, and the ritualistic bath of Hinduism, attracts domestic and foreign tourists all year round.

But for Mr. Manjhi and thousands of boatmen like him, the river is not only a matter of faith, but of heritage and livelihood. “We, the boatmen community, are religiously ordained to facilitate the purpose of pilgrimage,” Manjhi, the president of Maa Ganga Nishadraj Seva Nyas, the organization representing the boatmen community, told The National. “But the government is turning this pilgrimage site into a tourist attraction. We oppose this.” Varanasi is revered as the city of temples where at least 1,500 country boats have ferried tourists over the river for decades. But recently, the local government has introduced a new water taxi service with modern motor boats that locals say will adversely affect the livelihood of the traditional boatmen. Ten water taxis have been brought from Gujarat already to transport larger groups of pilgrims in a shorter time. While the traditional boat carries a maximum of 15 people at a time, the taxi can transport almost 10 times that number. According to Manjhi, the new service would charge $18, while the boatmen are allowed to take only $1.50 for the same ride.

More at source.
https://www.thenationalnews.com/weekend/2023/08/11/an-unholy-row-varanasi-water-taxis-disrupt-age-old-ganges-boat-business/

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