Flowing conversations for water conservation: WfW to hold Water Fest 2025 at Prayagraj

By A Representative

In the wake of the recent tragedy at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, where a stampede on January 29, 2025, resulted in the loss of at least 30 lives and left many others injured, the WforW Foundation is proceeding with the planned Water Fest 2025 on January 31 and February 1, 2025.

The event, themed 'Flow and Say' (बहने दो, कहने दो), aims to foster open dialogues about water conservation and management.

The Water Fest 2025 seeks to create a platform where individuals can share their insights, concerns, and solutions related to water issues, promoting a collaborative approach to water conservation. The foundation believes that, especially in times of tragedy, it is essential to come together as a community to address pressing environmental challenges.

Bringing together water experts, environmentalists, students, and citizens to engage in meaningful conversations about water conservation and sustainable management, the festival draws inspiration from the idea that water and knowledge remain pure when they flow freely. Just as water moves across lands, connecting ecosystems and civilizations, knowledge about water should also flow freely across disciplines, regions, and beliefs.

The event will encourage discussions on water conservation and its cultural, ecological, and spiritual significance, fostering a collective effort to address water-related challenges.

Allahabad-Prayagraj, the city of the Triveni Sangam—where the sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati meet—holds immense cultural and spiritual importance. Hosting Water Fest 2025 during Maha Kumbh Mela, where millions gather for a holy dip, provides a unique opportunity to spark vital conversations on water purity, pollution, and conservation.

The two-day event will feature interactive sessions, storytelling, and creative expressions, allowing participants to walk, talk, reflect, and act on water issues. On January 31, 2025, participants will take part in a Walk n Talk Water Matters session, where they will discuss water-related challenges at local, national, and global levels. Water Connects – My n River’s Life will encourage reflection on the parallels between life’s journey and a river’s course. In From Be Like Water to I Am Water, attendees will explore what it means to embody water’s adaptability and resilience.

On February 1, 2025, the event will continue with If River Could Speak and Seek, allowing participants to express rivers’ concerns through poetry, storytelling, and song. Me, Ma Ganga, and My River at My Place will encourage personal connections between participants and their local water bodies. My Water Footprint and Cleansing will provide a self-assessment opportunity, prompting behavioral changes for increased water conservation and reduced pollution.

These sessions will be conducted in a Pecha Kucha format, featuring diverse expressions such as speeches, arts, music, poetry, and dance, fostering a deeper appreciation of water.

Water Fest 2025 is being organized in collaboration with multiple NGOs under the theme ‘Kalash’. Key partners include Development Alternatives, Mangal Bhoomi Foundation, Centre for Policy Research, OISCA-ALAR, and HCL Foundation. The Sansera Foundation and Eco Development and Research Cell Ahmedabad are funding partners, while the Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WICCI-WRC) serves as the knowledge partner.

The WforW Foundation has successfully hosted previous editions of Water Fest. Water Fest 2023 ("I Am Water") was held at TISS Hyderabad, drawing 70+ participants daily. Water Fest 2024 ("Water Connects") took place at IIT-BHU Varanasi, with over 100 participants each day.

With an expected turnout of 200+ participants, Water Fest 2025 aims to bridge the gap between concerns and solutions while emphasizing that "water is everybody’s business."

---

Click here for concept paper

Comments

India's chemical industry: The missing piece of Atmanirbhar Bharat

By N.S. Venkataraman* Rarely a day passes without the Prime Minister or a cabinet minister speaking about the importance of Atmanirbhar Bharat . The Start-up India scheme is a pillar in promoting this vision, and considerable enthusiasm has been reported in promoting start-up projects across the country. While these developments are positive, Atmanirbhar Bharat does not seem to have made significant progress within the Indian chemical industry . This is a matter of high concern that needs urgent and dispassionate analysis.

History, culture and literature of Fatehpur, UP, from where Maulana Hasrat Mohani hailed

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* Maulana Hasrat Mohani was a member of the Constituent Assembly and an extremely important leader of our freedom movement. Born in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh, Hasrat Mohani's relationship with nearby district of Fatehpur is interesting and not explored much by biographers and historians. Dr Mohammad Ismail Azad Fatehpuri has written a book on Maulana Hasrat Mohani and Fatehpur. The book is in Urdu. He has just come out with another important book, 'Hindi kee Pratham Rachna: Chandayan' authored by Mulla Daud Dalmai.' During my recent visit to Fatehpur town, I had an opportunity to meet Dr Mohammad Ismail Azad Fatehpuri and recorded a conversation with him on issues of history, culture and literature of Fatehpur. Sharing this conversation here with you. Kindly click this link. --- *Human rights defender. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/vbrawat , X @freetohumanity, Skype @vbrawat

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor* This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

New RTI draft rules inspired by citizen-unfriendly, overtly bureaucratic approach

By Venkatesh Nayak* The Department of Personnel and Training , Government of India has invited comments on a new set of Draft Rules (available in English only) to implement The Right to Information Act, 2005 . The RTI Rules were last amended in 2012 after a long period of consultation with various stakeholders. The Government’s move to put the draft RTI Rules out for people’s comments and suggestions for change is a welcome continuation of the tradition of public consultation. Positive aspects of the Draft RTI Rules While 60-65% of the Draft RTI Rules repeat the content of the 2012 RTI Rules, some new aspects deserve appreciation as they clarify the manner of implementation of key provisions of the RTI Act. These are: Provisions for dealing with non-compliance of the orders and directives of the Central Information Commission (CIC) by public authorities- this was missing in the 2012 RTI Rules. Non-compliance is increasingly becoming a major problem- two of my non-compliance cases are...

Celebrating 125 yr old legacy of healthcare work of missionaries

Vilas Shende, director, Mure Memorial Hospital By Moin Qazi* Central India has been one of the most fertile belts for several unique experiments undertaken by missionaries in the field of education and healthcare. The result is a network of several well-known schools, colleges and hospitals that have woven themselves into the social landscape of the region. They have also become a byword for quality and affordable services delivered to all sections of the society. These institutions are characterised by committed and compassionate staff driven by the selfless pursuit of improving the well-being of society. This is the reason why the region has nursed and nurtured so many eminent people who occupy high positions in varied fields across the country as well as beyond. One of the fruits of this legacy is a more than century old iconic hospital that nestles in the heart of Nagpur city. Named as Mure Memorial Hospital after a British warrior who lost his life in a war while defending his cou...

N-power plant at Mithi Virdi: CRZ nod is arbitrary, without jurisdiction

By Krishnakant* A case-appeal has been filed against the order of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and others granting CRZ clearance for establishment of intake and outfall facility for proposed 6000 MWe Nuclear Power Plant at Mithi Virdi, District Bhavnagar, Gujarat by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) vide order in F 11-23 /2014-IA- III dated March 3, 2015. The case-appeal in the National Green Tribunal at Western Bench at Pune is filed by Shaktisinh Gohil, Sarpanch of Jasapara; Hajabhai Dihora of Mithi Virdi; Jagrutiben Gohil of Jasapara; Krishnakant and Rohit Prajapati activist of the Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a notice to the MoEF&CC, Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and case is kept for hearing on August 20, 2015. Appeal No. 23 of 2015 (WZ) is filed, a...

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Minority rights group writes to Gujarat CEO, flags serious issues in SIR process

By A Representative The Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) Gujarat has submitted a formal representation to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Gujarat, Harit Shukla (IAS), highlighting serious irregularities and difficulties faced by voters in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of the electoral roll. The organisation warned that if corrective measures are not taken urgently, a large number of eligible citizens may be deprived of their voting rights.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Rajiv Shah Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Search This Blog