The Varanasi Heritage Dossier/Mehta Ghat
Detailed description of each heritage Site - Scindhia Ghat to Pancaganga Ghat
Location
[edit | edit source]25º 18.839’ North and 83º 00.890’ East (Agnishvara, Patni Tola).
Exact location on a map
[edit | edit source]Naya-Ganesha and Mehta Ghats.
Area
[edit | edit source]0.21 ha
Historical/cultural/natural significance
[edit | edit source]Till 1960, Mehta Ghat was a portion of the southern part of Rama Ghat. According to the Puranic sources, two water-front sacred spots existed, viz. Maitravaruna and Mautta Tirtha. In 1960, a wealthy merchant of Kolkata, Ballabharam Saligaram Mehta, purchased this area and built a hospital in 1962. In commemorating his services to Kashi, this ghat is called Mehta Ghat. Further, the Municipal Corporation of Varanasi made the ghat in the same year and extended it. This ghat is well known for the Sangaveda Vidyalaya (‘school of the Sanga Veda’), where teaching is performed in Sanskrit medium, and students have to strictly follow the rules of chastity, celibacy, yoga and meditation and to live a life of monk. Of this kind, this is the only school, perhaps in the whole of India. Maharashtrian people dominate this area.
Present state of conservation
[edit | edit source]Except for the temple organisations and the hospital taking care of their properties, there are no specific action plans, programmes, or strategies for conserving and preserving the ghats. The temple trusts maintain their properties according to their own perspectives.
Specific measures being taken for conserving the specific property
[edit | edit source]It is expected that by supporting active people participation, awareness to save the age-old rich heritage, and development under the Master Plan (and its judiciary control) the ghat heritage will be protected and conserved for the better befit to the society.
Ownership
[edit | edit source]The respective trusts own the temple-related and hospital properties along the ghat, the inhabitants own the houses and other properties, and the Municipal Corporation owns the ghat area.