Image credits: @TNGeography/Twitter
A heart‑touching video from Tamil Nadu’s delta captures locals greeting the Cauvery River's flow with flowers, folded hands, and prayers as water released from Kallanai dam arrives. This river is a lifeline, irrigating over 1.4 million acres of farmland and sustaining thousands of farming families.
Image credits: Hindustan Times
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin released the water from the dam on June 12, and this signals the start of the irrigation season. This annual release benefits farmers across 13 delta districts of Tamil Nadu, ensuring timely cultivation during the monsoon.
Image credits: NDTV
The water that was released from the dam will be channalised through the Cauvery, the Vennar, and the Grand Anicut Canal primarily for irrigation purposes in the Delta districts of Tamil Nadu. The Kallanai Dam, one of the oldest in the world (built ~2000 years ago), plays a vital role in distributing water to over 500,000 hectares of farmland.
Image credits Thanjavurtourism
The residents treated the water almost as a divine presence, and joyfully celebrated its arrival. In these regions, over 70% of the population depends on agriculture, making the river’s arrival a deeply personal moment of hope.
Image credits: Krishi Jagran
In videos shared across social media, families ran along the riverbanks, showering petals, sprinkling paddy seeds, and folding their hands in silent thanks—an emotional tradition passed down generations. Paddy farming here accounts for nearly half of Tamil Nadu’s rice production—a crop that depends heavily on this river water.
Image credits:himachalservices.nic.in
Image credits: The Hindu
Women prostrated before the river, symbolising reverence to what they consider divine. These gestures reflect a community’s connection to their land—where even a single missed monsoon can impact lakhs of farmers and daily wage earners.
Image credits: Reddit
To mark the water’s release, CM Stalin also scattered petals and paddy seeds into the flow—honouring both the river and the farmers who depend on it. Such symbolic gestures reaffirm the government’s commitment to supporting the livelihoods of millions dependent on Cauvery’s timely flow.
Image credits: PuneLonavlalocal.com
Image credits: The Hindu
The ceremony reaffirmed that for many in Tamil Nadu, the Cauvery isn't just for irrigation — it’s an emotion, a cultural bond, and a sacred companion as the monsoon arrives. Each year, the Cauvery supports the livelihoods of over 2 million farmers and fuels the production of essential crops like rice, sugarcane, and cotton, which feed millions across the state and beyond.
Image credit : Business Standard