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As vehicles fly over Pumpwell, its famous Kalasha lies dilapidated by the wayside

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Mangaluru: Once upon a time – in the pre-Covid-19 and pre-flyover days – the Kalasha that stood majestically at the Pumpwell junction was an attraction to all those who entered Mangaluru city from Kerala or the hinterland of Karnataka.

It stood encircled by traffic that went on its way around it from four directions, each commuter glancing at it admiringly as they passed through the round-a-about it adorned. It was symbolic of Mangaluru itself.

But then ‘development’ overtook it. It was decided, that a flyover was to be built over where it once stood and it was literally brushed aside so that traffic could flow over it and through it, rather than around it.

A Kalasha, also spelt Kalash or kalasa (Sanskrit: kala?a; literally “pitcher, pot”), is a metal (brass, copper, silver, or gold) pot with a large base and smallmouth, large enough to hold a coconut. Sometimes, “Kalasha” also refers to such a pot filled with water and topped with a coronet of mango leaves and a coconut. This combination is often used in Hindu rites and depicted in Hindu iconography. The Kalasha is viewed as an auspicious object in Jainism and is even used as a ceremonial object, as well as a decorative motif, in Indian art and architecture. The Kalasha motif was used in decorating bases and capitals of pillars from the 5th century.

The Pumpwell Kalasha was installed at the Mahaveer Circle (Pumpwell circle) in 2003. The Jain community gifted this Kalasha after the circle was named after Lord Mahaveera during the 2006th birth anniversary celebrations.

Development demands road connectivity

A proposal for the highway widening between Kundapur and Talapady contained a proposal for a flyover at Pumpwell – right over the Kalasha. In order to execute this plan, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) had sought to shift the Kalasha to pave the way for the flyover construction.

Opposition was natural and the donors of the Kalasha, the Jain Community objected to its shifting. However, in true community spirit, they realized it is for the greater good after a dialogue with the Mangaluru City Corporation. They told them then that it would be a temporary relocation when it was shifted to a side of the Junction on March 21, 2016.

Coming to 2020, the flyover was inaugurated on January 31 and vehicular movement on the flyover and under it is ongoing. However, the Kalasha remains in its temporary location in a less-than majestic state, awaiting a return to its rightful place. Parts of the structure have already fallen apart and the rest is on the way to oblivion.

Now, the people have begun to doubt the intentions of the Mangaluru City Corporation. When quizzed, Mangaluru South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath clarified that the proposal of installing the Kalasha still exists and that there is no proposal to withdraw it. “Though the NHAI constructed a flyover at Pumpwell, it comes under the property of the MCC. Hence, the Corporation will take the decision of reinstalling the Kalasha and where it should be installed. For this, approval of the MCC Council is required. Once the Council is convened, approval will be sought for this,” he said.

Kamath added that the Council’s approval is also necessary to re-name some of the city. “As two great personalities of the undivided Dakshina Kannada district, like former union minister George Fernandes and IPS officer Madhukar Shetty are no longer with us, we need to respect and commemorate their contribution to society. Hence, there is also a plan to name roads after them, for which approval will be taken at the next MCC Council meeting.”

As vehicles fly over Pumpwell, its famous Kalasha lies dilapidated by the wayside
As vehicles fly over Pumpwell, its famous Kalasha lies dilapidated by the wayside
As vehicles fly over Pumpwell, its famous Kalasha lies dilapidated by the wayside
As vehicles fly over Pumpwell, its famous Kalasha lies dilapidated by the wayside
As vehicles fly over Pumpwell, its famous Kalasha lies dilapidated by the wayside
As vehicles fly over Pumpwell, its famous Kalasha lies dilapidated by the wayside

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Ganesh Mavanji

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