Footsteps of Devotion
Jal Sahelis Advance Toward Delhi
Daughters of the Yamuna March On for River Revival
Mathura: Dust rises with every step, but the resolve of the Jal Sahelis is unwavering. On the twenty-second day of the ‘Aviral–Nirmal Yatra‘, these women, calling themselves daughters of the Yamuna, marched through Mathura carrying a 300-kilometre message of faith, responsibility, and river revival. Each footfall is a statement, each village a classroom, and each interaction a call to protect the sacred waters that sustain life and belief alike.
Their journey began on January 29, 2026, at the sacred Pachnada Sangam, where the Yamuna meets the Chambal, Sindh, Pahuj, and Kwari rivers. From this spiritually significant confluence, the Jal Sahelis set out on a determined march toward Delhi, engaging communities in conversation, urging action, and carrying the weight of centuries of devotion. Over the past three weeks, the women have covered nearly 300 kilometres on foot, passing through more than a hundred villages and schools across Jalaun, Etawah, Agra, and Mathura districts.
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At every stop, the march transforms roadsides into spaces of awareness. Beneath school gates and village trees, the women speak to children, elders, and farmers about the Yamuna’s shrinking flow and rising pollution. Their message is simple yet urgent: protecting the river is both a civic duty and a sacred responsibility. What began as a foot march has become a living dialogue, where activism wears the face of devotion.
The journey has also drawn media attention. Meenu Khare from All India Radio joined the women to hear their experiences firsthand. Calling them “Yamuna Putri,” she praised the Aviral–Nirmal Yatra as extraordinary, highlighting the collective strength of women uniting to awaken society. “The nation must learn from this effort,” she said, emphasising the central role of water in sustaining life and the urgency of conserving it.
Spiritual devotion and environmental concern flow together on this journey. Dr Sanjay Singh, founder of the Jal Saheli Committee, reflected on Braj’s intimate bond with the Yamuna. “Every particle of Braj carries the presence of Lord Krishna and Radha Rani,” he said. Yet, he warned that the river’s deteriorating flow and rising pollution are slowly eroding that faith. He called on the government to act swiftly, underscoring that reviving the Yamuna is not only an environmental necessity but also a cultural and spiritual obligation.
Along the route, villagers welcomed the Jal Sahelis with warmth, offering water, blessings, and words of encouragement. Each pause becomes a shared expression of commitment, a reminder that the river’s future rests not only in policies and infrastructure, but in the collective conscience of communities.
As the procession moves toward Delhi, the Jal Sahelis carry with them the voices of over a hundred villages, the echo of temple bells, and the dust of long roads. The Aviral–Nirmal Yatra embodies faith in action, devotion turned into awareness, and unwavering responsibility — a step-by-step call for the Yamuna to flow freely and purely once again.
– global bihari bureau
