Mutha River and Ghats of Pune
The Mutha River arises in the western ghats and flows eastward until it merges with the Mula River in the city of Pune. After merging with the Mula river in Pune, it flows on as Mula-Mutha to Join the River Bhima. The development of Pune City, However can be traced to the rule of Balaji Baji Rao, or NanaSaheb, as he was called. During this time 1740-1761, Pune came to be adorned with numerous temples and Ghat along this Mutha River. Traditionally rivers needed to be accessible to people as they were focal points for all their daily chores. Simply put, ‘Ghat’ is a structure that helps people access River. 6 such ghats are still used by the people of Pune for various activities. As i walked along these Ghats and temples with eyes wide open and mind alert, I absorbed the essence of the place and multiple characters in play started speaking for themselves. Each narrating a story of its own. As you entered this spectrum of perspectives, each with a different connection with the seemingly still river made accessible by the Ghats. Each narrating a story of its own, some new and some had seen the river since older times. And finally all these characters evoked a thought, is the river dead or alive?
Pune, Maharashtra
Location map of Pune
The Mutha River arises in the western ghats and flows eastwards until it merges with the Mula River in the city of Pune. After merging with the Mula River in Pune, it flows on as Mula-Mutha River to join the Bhima River.
Source : Pune- Queen of Deccan
Extent of Pune (1950)
The real development of the city, however, can be traced to the rule of Balaji Baji Rao, or Nanasaheb, as he was called. During this time, 1740-1761, Pune came to be adorned with numerous Temples, Ghats, Wadas and Peths.
Source : Pune- Queen of Deccan
Ghats and Temples of Pune
Source : - Google Earth
Morya Gosavi Mandir Ghats, Pimpri
Traditionally, rivers needed to be accessible to people as they were focal point for all their daily chores. Simply put, ‘Ghat’ is a structure that helps people access rivers.
Source : Pune- Queen of Deccan
Ganpati festival
English artist Julius Middleton Boyd’s impression of a Ganpati Festival in Peshwa times.
Source : Pune- Queen of Deccan
Sangam, circa 1920s
Sangameshwar temple and ghat.
Source : Pune- Queen of Deccan
A causeway before the Bund was built, circa 1860.
Source : Pune- Queen of Deccan
There is a lot of transition in usage of Ghats today, where the purpose has transformed from a public space to specific activities. E.g. Sangam Ghat is used for Cremation and seldom see public gathering.
People performing Pardi ritual at Sangham Ghat.
The infiltrated groundwater travels through a network of cracks and fissure and eventually emerges from below the surface, in the form of a spring. Two such springs can be spotted along the Mutha river, One on the ghats of Vitthal mandir and second on Omkareshwar ghats.
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