Salagrama in the hand of Monkey (Mankada Hatare Salagrama)

Salagrama - a sacred stone usually a black colored spherical fossil found in the holy Gandhaki River in Himalaya. They are considered to be lord himself and are worshiped in temples and at home.

Last weekend, I thought of roaming by cycle which I occasionally do in the galis (narrow roads) of Cuttack city. Popular saying in odia on the millennium city Cuttack, Babana Bazar and Tepana Gali (52 markets and 53 narrow roads) and that day my cycle ride was the gali from Tinikonia Bagicha to Buxi bazar crossing Kesharpur again from Meria Bazar towards dolamundai crossing friend’s colony. Find a busy road, shops and denizens sitting in front of house or in barandas (open space outside houses) may be due to hot and humid summer evening sans power supply. It was worth watching the reaction may be cycling in such roads by my age group of women is not that common. J    

The open surface drain is the specialty of that gali. Witnessed children defecating open in the drain, people throwing all garbage directly to open drain and as usual you find people urinating at road side which very common scene in Cuttack. Local administration carrying a massive drain cleaning activity before monsoon breaks, perhaps worried of last year’s water logging in the city due to chocked drains. Found debris lying on roads blocking almost 70 percent and some side by roads were completely drenched and covered by debris leaving no space to even walk.  It was so spiteful, filthy, unhygienic and unhealthy. I wonder if this the only way to clean the open drain?

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Cuttack is such a beautiful city situated in the delta of River Mahanadi and surrounded by Mahanadi, its dis-tributary Kathjodi. Many times while commuting from Bhubaneswar in my glass covered AC Car in ring road, I keep on watching the crimson hued sunset, the beautiful view of Kathajodi River, the horizon, the gorgeous embracing sky.   Such a beautiful place, so scenic landscape... Once you open your glass you get the real smell of river side open defecation.  It’s so disgusting always and ever. Be it in an advance country with such unique topography it would have been an important tourist place attracting visitors worldwide.    I always feel this is the genuine case of Salagrama in the hand of monkey (Mankada Hatare Salagrama).