a water harvesting culture - ministry of environment ... ravi chopra.pdf · jal sanskriti. a water...

Jal SanskritiA Water 

Harvesting Culture 

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

Dr. Ravi Chopra

India receives all its 

precipitation in a few 

months. In ancient 

times, people grasped 

the nature of the 

annual water cycle 

and husbanded the 

rainwater in a variety 

of structures, to be 

used for the rest of the 

year.

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

Traditional Water Harvesting Traditional Water Harvesting  Structures In the CentralStructures In the Central‐‐WesternWestern

HimalayasHimalayas

ChaalChaal, , KhaalKhaal -- For Livestock For Livestock

NaulaNaula, , BaoriBaori -- Domestic WaterDomestic Water

DharaDhara, , MangraMangra -- Drinking Water, Drinking Water, Irrigation Irrigation

GoolGool, , HauzHauz -- IrrigationIrrigation

GharatGharat -- Milling Grains Milling Grains

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

This historic naula witnessed the establishment of the Katyuri dynasty in Kumaun in the 7th century AD. Located in Gadser village (Bageshwar district), it is always full of water.

BadrinathjiBadrinathji--KaKa--NaulaNaula

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

PanthyurhPanthyurh NaulaNaula

Reputedly over 1000 years old, it has beautifully sculpted Reputedly over 1000 years old, it has beautifully sculpted walls adorned with images of gods and their worshippers. In walls adorned with images of gods and their worshippers. In SyunrakotSyunrakot, , AlmoraAlmora district.district.

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

Panthyurh NaulaPeople’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

JahnviJahnvi NaulaNaula c.1263c.1263

Built by Raja Ramchandra Dev in Gangolihat, Pithoragarh district in the precincts of the Kali Mandir, local residents use it everyday.

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

BaleshwarBaleshwar NaulaNaula c.1272c.1272

Raja Thor Chand got this naula built in 1272 in Baleshwar, Champawat district. It is an excellent example of Uttarakhand’s architecture. It has an idol with the likeness of Buddha.

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

EkEk HathiaHathia NaulaNaula

Many legends surround the origins of this naula in Dhaknaa village, Champawat district. It is sculpted with figures from top to bottom. People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

Ranidhara

Naula

Almora, the seat of  the Chand

dynasty, is 

known as the city of  naulas. 

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

Almora’s

Tularameshwar

naula

Bah Kund

Narayankoti

village, Rudrapryag

district

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

NavagrahaNavagraha

MandirMandir

DharasDharas

Narayankoti

village, Rudraprayag

district

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

Guptakashi, Rudraprayag

district

GangaGanga‐‐YamunaYamuna

DharasDharas

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

PhaltiyaniPhaltiyani

NaulaNaula

Shailgaon, Almora

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

PaharpaniPaharpani NaulaNaula

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

Naini

Tal

district

Mandi

Ka Naun

Mandi, H.P.People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

Shiv

Baori

Mandi, H.P.

Baidu

Baori

Bumbum

village, Bilaspur

district, H.P.

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

BhagsunagBhagsunag

Dharamshala, H.P.

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

Masroor

Talaab

Masroor, Kangra

district, H.P.

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

People's Science Institute 22

Rajasthan’s Culture of  Water 

Harvesting 

People's Science Institute 23

Jodhpur’s Tradition 

Jodhpur’s rulers systematically developed its water potential.

pic source: flickr.com

People's Science Institute 24

Surface Water ‐

Gadi Sagar,

Jaisalmer

Royal interest guaranteed the construction of such lakes

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

Baori

Baoris or bers are massive community wells, used mainly for domestic water. They gather underground seepages. In the 1987-88 drought, several baoris in Jodhpur were revived

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

Jhalara

Jhalaras are tanks meant for community use and religious rites. They are usually rectangular and have steps on three or four sides.

People's Science Institute 27

Naadis

–

The Commons Tradition

Communities also conserved their water bodies. They had their usage rules.

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

How did this  tradition  survive 

for so long?

Lateba Baori, Kulu district

The Bases of TraditionThe Bases of Tradition

• Sanskar

(Religious Precepts)

• Sanskriti

(Customary Practices)

• Niti

(Laws & Administration)

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

All water was 

considered 

sacred.

It was not 

surprising  then 

that natural and 

people‐built 

water harvesting 

structures were 

regarded as 

sacred.

SanskarSanskar

Pushkar

Lake, Rajasthan

&& JhenJhen~~ ÒkxorÒkxor~~

SanskarSanskar

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

&& egkÒkjregkÒkjr

SanskarSanskar

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

&& euqLeeuqLe`̀frfr

SanskarSanskar

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

&& vfXu iqjkvfXu iqjkÆÆ

Bacchretu NaunBacchretu Naun, , H.P.

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

SanskritiSanskriti

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

Parashar

Lake, H.P.

Local cultural 

practices evolved out 

of the scriptural 

precepts. Temples 

were constructed near 

water bodies to 

symbolize their 

sanctity.

Sanskriti

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

SanskritiSanskriti

Molthi Mangra, Pauri district

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

Rituals of worship:  Even today a new

Kumaoni

bride on  first reaching her 

husbands home  offers a ritual 

prayer at the village naula

Burhiya NaulaBurhiya Naula, , DwarahatDwarahat

SanskritiSanskriti

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

Construction of  public water 

facilities like   naulas

was done 

as acts of piety  to earn merit, as 

homage to the  departed and  as 

community  service.

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

SanskritiSanskriti

Planting trees  like

peepal

and 

banyan both of  which are 

considered  sacred, at the 

edge of a water  body.

•Rituals and festivals sustained the spirit of reverence 

•Water was used for ritual purification in religious  ceremonies and ritual bathing on festivals. 

•The Baisakhi

festival in Himachal Pradesh 

is an  occasion when communities clean their local baoris, in 

time for the hot summer months.

•Ecological principles as guidelines for water resources  development, enunciated in ancient texts, were followed  in practice.  

SanskritiSanskriti

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

Mansarovar Taal

Kashyapa’s

Principles

Kashyapa’s

Principles

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

Giri Ganga, H.P.

NitiNiti

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

Decline of Tradition

Pungeshwar Naula

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

India’s colonial and post 

colonial governments  dis‐

mantled the legal and 

administrative framework 

that had sustained the 

traditions of water 

resources management. It 

alienated the communities 

and eroded sanskar

and 

sanskriti.

Revival

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

Meldungri naula

Gauri KundGauri Kund

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

Revival

Gauri Kund, Pauri district

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

Jal Sanskriti

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

Bhairav Naula, Dumkot village, Pauri Garhwal district

Jal Sanskriti Fellowship Program

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

AlmoraAlmora’’s Naula Sudhar Samitis Naula Sudhar Samiti

Dooba naula, Almora

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

Thank YouThank YouPeople’s Science Institute

252, Vasant Vihar – I, Dehra Dun, UttarakhandEmail : psiddoon@gmail.com

Web: peoplesscienceinstitute.com

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

KashyapKashyap’’ss PrinciplesPrinciples

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

Parashar Lake, H.P

KashyapKashyap’’ss PrinciplesPrinciples

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon

People’s Science Institute, Dehra Doon