Asia’s biggest Shaligram awaits protection

By Tilachan Pandey

Tamghas, Oct. 13: The Shaligram Shila at Setibeni, the meeting point of Gulmi, Parbat and Syangja districts, which is the biggest in Asia, is in need of proper conservation.

Shaligram is a stone collected from riverbed or banks of the Kaligandaki River. It is a non-anthropomorphic representation of God Vishnu for Hindus.

The Shaligram has been affected by the current of the Kaligandaki River as it is situated on its bank. The river has been cutting the Shaligram Shila from the side of Gulmi district.

Moreover, the wall constructed around the Shaligram has also been destroyed. 

However, no steps have been taken yet by concerned authorities.

“The Shaligram which is expected to fulfill the prayers and cleanse the sins of pilgrims is now itself seeking support for survival. It is a saddening scenario,” said Tilak Rana, a youth from Kaligandaki Rural Municipality of Gulmi.

Rana stressed that the Shaligram Shila belongs to three districts and two provinces – Gandaki and Lumbini, but none of them have shown interest in its conservation. “It shows how indifferent are our authorities in preserving our culture, tradition and history,” said Rana.

Meanwhile, local governments informed that they plan to protect the Shaligram Shila from further damage.

“The three local levels from the three districts sharing territory of the Shaligram Shila should jointly work for its preservation. Our local level will try to initiate it,” said Bed Bahadur Thapa, chairman of Kaligandaki Rural Municipality.

Similarly, Parbat’s Biyadi Rural Municipality Chairman Prabin Gurung also assured to take steps in preserving the Shaligram. 

“A budget of Rs. 1 million has been allocated from Gandaki Province to protect the Shaligram from the river’s current. 

However, regular rain has affected the process,” said Gurung.

Gurung added that Parbat’s disaster management meeting has also proioritised protection of the Shaligram.

Syangja’s Galyang Municipality Mayor Guru Prasad Bhattarai said that they lacked budget to address the issue but were trying to seek support from the provincial and federal governments. 

“The Shaligram Shila has a great religious, cultural and tourism value. Its protection is undisputed,” said Bhattarai.

Bhattarai also informed that the municipality is preparing a master plan with the help of experts to prevent inundation along the Shaligram Shila and the nearby settlements.

The Shaligram Shila area hosts extravagant fares and rituals on the occasion of Asar’s Thulo Ekadashi, Makar Sankranti and Nepali New Year, among others.

Locals and priests say that the sound of bell ringing can be heard from the Shaligram Shila during the nights. It is said that late King Mahendra Shah protected the Shaligram Shila when people tried to break it citing gold deposit inside it.