On Sunday, the Cauvery Calling rally has entered its final phase of the Karnataka segment. It was welcomed by enthusiastic volunteers who joined the motorcycle cavalcade for a brief journey from Kanteerava Stadium at 11 am to the Palace Grounds. While people lined up the streets to present a boost of energy and cheer the rally, the relatively emptier weekend roads and pleasant weather ensured that the journey to the Grounds was smooth.

Huge support for the rally

Later in the evening, a large number of people gathered at Tripura Vasini, Palace Grounds, for a public event that was addressed by spiritual leader Sadhguru. During the event, Rajamata of Mysuru Palace, Pramoda Devi; Chief Minister, BS Yediyurappa; State Tourism Minister CT Ravi; Lok Sabha MP PC Mohan; and Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, founder Chairperson and Managing Director of Biocon Ltd shared the stage with Sadhguru.

READ | Sadhguru wins PM Modi's praise for 'Cauvery Calling', flags-off rally

Chairman of Manipal Group of Institutions Mohandas Pai, Managing Director of Britannia Industries Vinita Bali, Ex-vice-Chairman of Tata Steel and Rally for Rivers Board member B Mutturaman, and DG & IG of Police Neelamani Raju also attended the event, among others. Spiritual leader Sadhguru said during the event that the Cauvery is one of the most precious treasures of Karnataka and that by gathering together to support Cauvery Calling, everyone was demonstrating that they were willing to repair the damage that the human race has knowingly or unknowingly caused to the river. 

READ | Tamil Nadu seeks immediate release of Cauvery water from Karnataka

Cauvery Calling initiative

Cauvery Calling is a one of a kind initiative by Sadhguru to save the Cauvery river. The initiative is aimed at setting a standard for how rivers across the nation can be revitalized. Sadhguru, according to the official site of the initiative, feels that it will initiate the revitalization of Cauvery river and transform the lives of 84 million people.

READ | Union Minister Sadananda Gowda writes to Centre and Cauvery Board requesting an additional release of 2 Thousand Million Cubic Feet water to drought-

On the official site, Sadhduru has said, "Cauvery has been the source of wellbeing, prosperity, and the very source of life for these lands. A forest-fed perennial river is fast becoming a seasonal stream as 87% of tree cover has been removed in 50 years. Cauvery is calling, do you have the heart to hear?”

According to him, the simplest way to revive the river is to plant more trees and therefore, the initiative aims at supporting farmers to plant 242 crore trees in Cauvery basin by adopting agroforestry.

READ | DMK MPs raise Cauvery issue during President Ram Nath Kovind's address