At the 30th World Peace Gandaki Assembly held today at Panchakot in Baglung Municipality-6, prominent scholars emphasized the urgent need to conserve the Kali Gandaki River and the rare Shaligram stones found exclusively in this river. The assembly, held at Vishwashanti Sarvasiddhidham Panchakot, voiced concerns over the environmental degradation caused by the over-exploitation of natural resources, which they warned could lead to a crisis for the entire ecosystem.
Senior Vice President of the World Hindu Federation Nepal, Shankar Kharal, highlighted the significance of the Kali Gandaki River, not only as a water body but also as a cradle of civilization. He noted that the river’s origin, Damodar Kunda, is deeply connected to human evolution and development.
Spokesperson of the Gandaki Assembly, Sudarshan Acharya, spoke on the historical and spiritual significance of the Kali Gandaki River and the surrounding pilgrimage sites. “This region is a sacred land where sages and Maharishis have meditated. The area is mentioned in various religious texts and Puranas,” he stated. “The Kali Gandaki is the only river in the world that flows through Muktinath and is known for its Shaligram stones,” he added, stressing that the primary goal of the Gandaki Assembly is to save the Kali Gandaki River.
Acharya likened the Gandaki civilization in central Nepal to the Koshi and Karnali civilizations in the east and west, respectively. He warned, “If the Kali Gandaki River is endangered, the entire Gandaki civilization will be at risk. Therefore, the assembly aims to raise awareness at the grassroots level and press concerned authorities to take responsibility for preserving the river and the Saligram stones.”
Acharya also announced plans to extend the Gandaki Assembly’s initiatives across all 11 districts and 85 local levels in Gandaki Province. The Panchakot Development Council, which organized the assembly, has already conducted similar gatherings in districts like Baglung, Parbat, Myagdi, Kaski, and Tanahun.
Council President Jagannath Acharya emphasized the critical importance of preserving water, land, and forests for the survival of all living beings. He called for concerted efforts to protect these natural resources.
Experts pointed out that rivers originating from Nepal’s Himalayan region, including the Kali Gandaki, serve as vital water sources for over two billion people worldwide. They stressed the need for special attention to be paid to the conservation of these rivers.
Environmental activists warned that the exploitation of the Kali Gandaki would not only destroy the region’s beauty and heritage but also disrupt the entire human-nature cycle, making conservation efforts imperative. They demanded that the river be allowed to flow in its natural state, preserving its religious, cultural, and ecological significance.
The Kali Gandaki River, which flows south from Damodar Kunda in the Himalayas, through the sacred Muktinath area in Mustang, is revered in Hinduism as the only river in the world where Shaligram stones, symbols of Lord Vishnu, are found. This makes the river a holy site for devotees and a critical part of Nepal’s central river system.
