• Dr Snehal Donde

Panihati is historically and traditionally a remarkable holy place of Vaishnavism. Gaudiya Vaishnavism popularly known as ‘Bengal Vaishnavism’ originated at this place, as it is famous for pastimes of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityanand Mahaprabhu. This place was enriched due to birth, contributions & holy footsteps of many great men again and again. On the bank of holy river Ganga, many temple, hermitage, garden & “Ghat” were constructed during the long past. In the history of ‘eternal Hindu religion’ of India, name of Panihati was very glorious but at present ‘age of materialistic life’, these are not being looked properly. Many localities are not even knowing about the contributions, historical values & importance of Dandamohaotsavtala and Gauraga Ghat which were once at the peak of its glory & yet glorious, not only for Bengal but also for rest of India and to some extent at many places of the world as Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited Panihati and eternally resides here. Therefore, this paper explains the hystorical spiritual and cultural importance of the place and the present condition. Also, as religion and the environment have been two subjects that have continually crossed paths, this paper attempts to explore the relationship of religion and the environment with ethnographic approach and unfolds the implications of sedimentation and pollution of river Ganges on the religious sentiments of the devotees and worshippers practicing Vaishnavism. Finally, the study concludes with suggesting West Bengal Government for desilting of Ganges and separate sewer and river channels along with the restoration of Dandamahotsavtala and Gauragna Ghat and declaring these rich places of Vaishnavism in Panihati as pilgrimage heritage sites.

Vaishnavism, Panihati, Environmental impact, Ganges, heritage

"Environmental impact of Sedimentation and pollution of Ganges on rich Vaishnava culture of Panihati in West Bengal ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.8, Issue 2, page no.1106-1118, February-2021, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2102132.pdf

"Environmental impact of Sedimentation and pollution of Ganges on rich Vaishnava culture of Panihati in West Bengal ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.8, Issue 2, page no. pp1106-1118, February-2021, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2102132.pdf