Resurrecting water structures

A group of youngsters in and around Bengaluru have found a new way of spending their weekends — by cleaning and reviving kalyanis and heritage structures in different places around Bengaluru. The team comprising 40 members decide the place beforehand. Then they visit the place on a Sunday with the necessary equipment. The large group normally splits into two teams of 20 each and starts the cleaning process. The members of the group are from different professions such as engineers, doctors, self-employed people and students. Besides the voluntary work they do, they also bear the expenses of the work.

This initiative started six months ago, when a group of friends visited Savanadurga near Magadi. Near the hill, they saw a kalyani in a neglected state, covered with wild plants. Being regular weekend travellers, they had seen such abandoned heritage structures in different tourist places. And, the kalyani in Savandurga triggered them into action. Soon, they decided to clean the kalyani, fixed a day and subsequently, revived the water structure.

Their work received wide appreciation and this led them to think about continuing the work in other places too. “Since the idea struck to us in Savanadurga, the place linked to Kempegowda, we named the team as Kempegowda Rathayatre Samithi,” says Madhugowda, a lead member of the team. Next in the line was the premises of the historical Someshwara Temple in Magadi and the temple’s kalyani. Some other water structures and tourist places restored by them include temple premises and kalyanis in Huliyurdurga and Huthridurga in Tumakuru district. Some of the parks and gardens in public places have also been cleaned up by the group.

Many youngsters have joined the Kempegowda Rathayatre Samithi in recent months and as a result, local teams have been formed in Tumakuru. The team intends to extend its work to other parts of the State as well. It has identified over 20 kalyanis that are in bad condition and has come up with a plan to rejuvenate them.

In future, the team intends to organise street plays to create awareness about the significance of heritage structures and the importance of keeping them clean. “We invite the public to be part of the initiative by identifying places that need attention. Those who are interested can also join us as volunteers,” says Madhugowda. One can contact the team on 9535522651.