Hidden Stories: How Kumbharwada and Dengle Bridge forge a link between Pune’s history and Diwali celebrations

“For the caller generation, adjacent speechmaking this sanction volition not bring overmuch clarity and that is understandable due to the fact that determination are nary disposable remains of immoderate structures that could beryllium called a ves. Yet, this spot and its sanction clasp astatine slightest 500 years of humanities significance…,” writes writer Avinash Sowani successful Harvelele Pune, his publication connected the city’s history.

Chequered history

The past of the ves begins with Alauddin Khilji of Delhi who seized Pune during his 13th-century subject battle successful confederate India. Bada Arab, 1 of his officers, erected the Kille Hissar fort successful Pune, besides known arsenic Pandhricha Kot.

When the Nizam Shahi dynasty merged territories specified arsenic Kumbhari, Kasari, and Punewadi to signifier Kasba Pune, a fortification partition with 3 doors known arsenic ves was built astir this hamlet. One of these entrances was located connected the banks of the Mutha River. After the abundance of abstraction and h2o drove the ceramic-making community, Kumbhar-Kumbhakar, to settee adjacent the riverbank, the doorway came to beryllium known arsenic Kumbharves.

“Determining the nonstop twelvemonth erstwhile the fortifications oregon gates were built is astir intolerable owed to the deficiency of records. References to these gates often look successful documents, particularly during the Peshwa era. From these records, it tin beryllium inferred that the fortifications were apt built successful the second fractional of the 16th century,” adds Sowani.

Around 1630 AD, successful the struggle betwixt the Adilshahi and Nizamshahi kingdoms, Bijapur’s commandant Murar Jagdev launched a devastating onslaught connected Pune, destroying the full village, including its fortifications, gates, homes, and mansions. Kumbharves managed to survive, somewhat, with the remains of the gross lasting till the extremity of the Peshwa era.

“During the Nizamshahi period, a chromatic dam was constructed connected the Mutha River adjacent Kumbharves. Although the nonstop day is unknown, it remained intact until the extremity of the Peshwa era. The dam besides served arsenic a span and was called the Kumbharves Dam oregon Dagdi Pul (Stone Bridge). Until 1761, during the Peshwa era, this was the lone mode to transverse the Mutha River. It was lone erstwhile Nana Saheb Peshwa built the Lakdi Bridge (lakdi pul) that different way became available,” writes Sowani. He adds that successful 1798, Peshwa Bajirao II ordered the repair of this dam.

Few whitethorn beryllium alert of the humanities inheritance of this span oregon the adjacent Kumbharves Chowk. (Express photos)

The British recognised the value of the Kumbharves Dam and widened it successful 1835. The archetypal operation was fortified with caller techniques, including arches. At that time, the roadworthy was widened – and the remaining parts of the Kumbharves gross were demolished.

New bridges and aged ties

“In 1970, the Pune Municipal Corporation built a caller Dengle Bridge supra the aged chromatic bridge, improving postulation flow. However, the tallness of the roadworthy starring to Kasba accrued significantly. Around the aforesaid time, a wide roadworthy was constructed connecting the caller span to the Dengle Bridge, yet merging with the Sangam Bridge road. This made Kumbharves Chowk a salient junction,” Sowani states.

“The calm ambiance of Kasba Peth was mislaid owed to the dense postulation connected this caller road. There were plans to wholly demolish the aged chromatic span but truthful far, that has not happened. If it had, Pune’s past practice would person been wholly forgotten,” helium adds.

According to an authoritative Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) statement, “On the westbound broadside of the existing Dengle Bridge, a caller span of 162 metres successful magnitude and 24 metres successful width was planned, with 4 piers and 5 spans. The plan included 2 carriageways, each 7.5 metres wide, alongside rhythm tracks and footpaths. The projected span featured tee-shaped girders of 45.50 meters successful magnitude crossed 3 spans, with decorative alloy structural trusses on the sides of the footpath and rhythm track. Upon completion, this span would trim the postulation load connected Dengle Bridge.”

A caller and wider span named Chhatrapati Shahu Setu was built and inaugurated connected June 7, 2019.

Today, the potters’ assemblage successful Kumbharwada has moved its manufacturing to Mundhwa, wherever astir accumulation takes place. The accepted potter’s instrumentality has been replaced with an automatic wheel, and the age-old Kumbhar assemblage is successful decline.

Pune residents, however, proceed to sojourn Kumbharwada, particularly during festivals similar Diwali – and the bridges support humming with traffic.