Big Shaligram in Setiveni lacks protection

By Our Correspondent,Tamghas, Oct.30: Shaligram, the largest rock in Asia, is in weak condition due to a lack of protection.

There has been a religious belief that the sins committed knowingly and unknowingly will be removed and wishes will be fulfilled by worshipping the Shaligram.

The Shaligram located in Setiveni, the border point of Gulmi, Parbat and Syangja districts, has become weak due to the erosion of the Kaligandaki River.

The Kaligandaki River eroded the rock from the Gulmi side and the wall built around the Shaligram was also damaged. Now no one is paying attention to preserving the rock.  

Mukti Ram Pandey, a local from Gulmi Harmichour Village of Kaligandaki Rural Municiplaity-1, said that it is sad that the Shaligram, which can absolve sins committed knowingly and unknowingly and fulfil all the wishes of devotees, is on the verge of falling in the lack of protection.

Pandey said that no one showed interest in protecting Shaligram, which is popular in Asia. 

Three districts and two provinces have not shown their interest in saving it so it is clear that they do not pay attention to the religion, culture and history of the country, Pandey added. 

Ved Bahadur Thapa, Chairman of Kaligandaki Rural Municipality of Gulmi, emphasised that the three local levels of the three districts should develop a common concept to protect it. 

Thapa further said that the local levels of all three districts should hold a meeting for the protection of religious, cultural and historical areas.  Kaligandaki Rural Municipality is always ready for the protection of Shaligram, he added. 

However, Guru Prasad Bhattarai, Chairman of Galyang Municipality in Syangja, said that it was not possible to save the Shaligram with a small amount of money, so they were coordinating with the state and the central government.

 He said that they have asked the officials of the federal and provincial governments to provide the needed budget for the protection of the  Shaligram.

He said that the area is important in terms of tourism, so everyone has a responsibility to protect it. “The settlement of the market area is also at risk of flooding, a plan has been made to study by forming a team of technicians,” he added.