Water flows through Pune and its environs as rain, rivers, streams, canals and aquifers. As Pune evolved from a hamlet, along the sacred confluence of the Mula and Mutha rivers, to one of the largest cities in Maharashtra, water has often been indiscriminately harnessed for growing domestic and productive use. Punyache Paani celebrates the waters of Pune which were once revered for their sweet taste and unique properties. The exhibition traces Pune’s water heritage from early systems for storing water such as Baravs or stepped ponds, to the nahars or aqueducts built by local rulers, the famed Peshwas in the 18th century, to the colonial and post-colonial construction of dams and pipelines and the introduction of sanitary systems and hygiene measures. Beyond utility and ritual many of the early water structures were often meritorious acts by wealthy merchants and philanthropists who valued access to water for all. However, over the years, increasing urbanisation, climate uncertainty and social inequality have reshaped many of our urban waterscapes and pose a risk to our ecology, environmental well-being and public health.

Punyaache Paani seeks to raise awareness on the inevitable question, “where does our water come from?” It is a collaborative effort with diverse partners from across this bustling city – architects, urban planners, water professionals, NGOs, artists, research scholars and academics. Using interactive and engaging content, we explore water from an interdisciplinary lens sensitive to the multiple challenges we face and the need to build a holistic and ethical water stewardship.

Co-curators – Chhavi Mathur & Sara Ahmed