A campaign to declare Devghat Dham, one of the country's most revered Hindu pilgrimage sites, a plastic-free zone has been launched. The local governments, civil society groups and the locals have pledged stricter waste management and regular monitoring to make the plan a success.

“We are preparing to formally declare Devghat Dham a plastic-free area very soon,” said Ishwari Raj Laudari, chairperson of the Devghat Area Development Committee. “Even after the declaration, we will carry out continuous monitoring to ensure compliance.”

Devghat Dham is the tri-junction of Chitwan, Tanahun and Nawalparasi East districts. It lies at the confluence of the Kaligandaki, which originates at Damodarkunda, and the Trishuli river, which flows down from Gosainkunda. The site is considered sacred among Hindus. Devotees believe that gods and goddesses themselves bathe at the confluence, making Devghat a major destination for ritual bathing, worship and cremation rites.

The campaign is being led by the Devghat Area Development Committee in coordination with Bharatpur Metropolitan City in Chitwan, Devghat Rural Municipality in Tanahun and Gaidakot Municipality in Nawalparasi East. The Gaidakot-based non-governmental organisation named Sahamati is supporting the initiative.

“We are working with the ‘We Are With the River’ project of Sahamati to declare Devghat Dham free of plastic and other unmanaged waste,” said Sadan Baral, executive director of the Devghat Area Development Committee. “The focus is on long-term behavioural change, not just one-time clean-ups.”

According to Taranath Subedi of Sahamati, joint programmes are being designed with environment sections of the three local governments, ward representatives and the development committee.

“Sixteen public toilets have already been built across the Devghat Dham area, and dustbins are being placed at key locations,” said Subedi. “Boat operators have also been made aware of proper waste management.”

Devghat area covers an area of 543 hectares of land, and the footfall has grown steadily in recent years. The religious site, including riverbanks and cremation grounds, has struggled with unmanaged plastic waste, especially during peak pilgrimage seasons.

Complaints about pollution have increased in recent times. Plastic waste is scattered along riverbanks that people consider sacred. “This is why a clean-up campaign has become necessary,” said Laudari. He urged visitors to change their habits. “We request everyone not to bring plastic when coming to Devghat Dham. Do not litter the area,” said Laudari, adding that religion is not practised by polluting rivers and soil with plastic.

Sahamati has recently conducted waste assessment along the Narayani riverbanks on both the Chitwan and Nawalparasi East sides. Engineer Sagar Karki, who was involved in the assessment, said plastic waste was found to be the most dominant component of the river and its banks’ pollution.

Bharatpur Metropolitan City has endorsed a plastic-free Devghat programme through its municipal council in the current fiscal year of 2025-26. “If existing policies are properly implemented, it is not difficult to make our religious sites plastic-free and clean,” said Karki.

Devghat is also a major cremation site, drawing mourners from distant districts. Keeping the cremation area clean has become another challenge.

“From shaving blades to clothes brought from home, waste is often discarded indiscriminately,” Baral said. He added that they have deployed regular sanitation staff, installed dustbins and designated containers for used blades and shaved off hair.

“To spread the message that Devghat Dham is a plastic-restricted zone, local tole development committees will be mobilised,” Laudari said.

Stakeholders have launched awareness programmes to make the plastic-free drive a grand success over the past few months. Homnath Subedi, chairman of Sahamati, expressed optimism, citing extensive awareness work on river cleanliness nationwide.

A huge number of devotees gather in Devghat Dham each year to observe Maghe Sankranti, celebrated on the first day of the Nepali month Magh. As per Hindu astrology, Makar Sankranti has a special significance as the sun enters the northern hemisphere on this day, and therefore, days start getting longer from this day.