« Les temples de l’Inde moderne » : un grand barrage dans un lieu saint de la Narmada (Madhya Pradesh) = 'Temples of Modern India': a large dam in a sacred place of the Narmada (Madhya Pradesh)

Crémin, E. (2009) « Les temples de l’Inde moderne » : un grand barrage dans un lieu saint de la Narmada (Madhya Pradesh) = 'Temples of Modern India': a large dam in a sacred place of the Narmada (Madhya Pradesh). Geocarrefour, 84(1/2), pp. 83-92. (doi: 10.4000/geocarrefour.7252)

Full text not currently available from Enlighten.

Abstract

The Narmada, one of the sacred rivers of India, is regarded as the manifestation of a “Mother Goddess” for Hindus as well as for tribal faiths. Its banks are marked by a succession of geo-symbols, expressing the worship of the Narmada and of Shiva, two interacting deities. These religious symbols, present in the landscape of the valley and throughout the pilgrim path, testify to the great devotion of the pilgrims and the important spiritual dimensions of this space. Nevertheless, this mighty river is currently transformed by the construction of a network of large hydro-electric dams. Situated on an island in the middle of the holy river, the sacred shrine called “Omkareshwar” is one of the twelve sanctuaries of Jyotilingas, a divine representation of Shiva, where thousands of devotees gather every year. In this place, a large dam was completed in July 2007. The opposition to the large dams appears in Omkareshwar as well as in all of India because of the impacts of these constructions on the environment, on the villages situated upstream and on the sacred spaces. The different stakeholders present around the site have different perceptions of the dam. The Hindu pilgrims and the Indian tourists express their satisfaction but at the same time the social, environmental and Hindu conservative movements challenge the development of this project.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Cremin, Dr Emilie
Authors: Crémin, E.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Social & Environmental Sustainability
Journal Name:Geocarrefour
Publisher:Association des Amis de la Revue de Geographie de Lyon
ISSN:1627-4873
ISSN (Online):1960-601X

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record