Ghongsa is situated in SHOOLPANI (a name of Lord Shankara) JUNGLE. Pilgrims dreaded this place as aborigines who were indulging in looting the pilgrims infested it. Lakhangiri Baba was completely looted here with only a loincloth left with him. He decided to stay there and did penance. It is believed that River Narmada saw him in person and ordained him to work amongst the aboriginal girls/women for their upliftment. This was the beginning of a renaissance programme of wellbeing and modernization of aborigines by Lakhangiri Baba. Thus Knowledge of the Self & Renaissance was started in Ghongsa
Lakhangiri Baba stayed at ghonsa on the bank of Narmada River, and mixed wholeheartedly with the local tribes. He collected clothes, seeds for cereals, useful plants from various sources to be distributed amongst the locals. And he developed a rapport with local tribes. I also had an opportunity to participate in these programme. Local youngsters were very happy & satisfied by receiving something to wear and it was writ large on their faces. Once in a year, on Narmada Jyanti Day (presumed birthday of river Narmada) that falls on 5th day of month of Magha as per Hindu calendar, all the females from area within 50 km of Ghongsa are treated to a feast named as 'Kanya Bhojan' (feast to the daughters). This tradition has its origin in the belief that these females are daughters of river Narmada. Their joy & vigour is to be seen to be believed.
Baba is trying to reconstruct the life for local adiwasis tribes through Farming & Forestation Ashram is working as a nursery for this; it is intended that locals should observe this, and repeat at their native places. Kitchen gardens are being encouraged; the seeds are being distributed for this purpose.
On Narmada Jayanti the river is offered green Sari, Green Bangles and Haladi Kumkum. In the evening, lamps are floated in the water and the river is decorated. These lamps represent the human life and the river is the Universe. Thousands of lamps are released every year.
Crocodiles infest Narmada. In spite of this the main means of river crossing for locals is a log of wood.—that is his boat. He rides it to cross the river as also to catch fish which is his diet for major part of the year as agriculture cannot sustain him for more than a couple of months in a year. Many disable persons carry out the Parikrama with great effort. I salute them
All these people stay at places where there are no facilities like roads, electricity, schools; even getting bellyful once a day is rare. There are no opportunities for employment. Can we participate in providing such basic amenities to these people? Baba had shown me the way to fruitful social work. Let us all participate in this mission and make younger tribe generation a happier one.
Ghongsa is in Badwani district, Madhya Pradesh state, India. Get down at Julwania on the road to Indor. Julwania to Badwani distance is 40 kms. Rajghat is about 6 kms from Badwani and is on the Bank of Narmada. Ghongsa is about 50 kms from Rajghat. We can travel this 50 km distance by boat through Narmada River or by walking on foot.