In the heart of Ayodhya, where the sacred Sarayu river has long been intertwined with the legend of Lord Ram, a quiet but transformative change is underway for the city’s traditional boatmen.
Under the Uttar Pradesh government’s innovative ‘Smark Naviks’ (or Smart Naviks) training programme, at least 60 local boatmen—primarily from the Kevat, Mallah, and Nishad communities—are being upskilled to evolve from simple naviks (boat operators) into Navik Guides: skilled storytellers, safety providers, and cultural ambassadors.
Launched in mid-January 2026, the three-day training (starting around January 15) equips participants with a blend of traditional wisdom and modern tourism essentials. Sessions cover:
- Storytelling on Ram Katha, local legends, and the historical significance of Ayodhya’s ghats and river sites.
- Safety and emergency response, including disaster management, CPR, and first aid (led by the State Disaster Response Force – SDRF).
- Communication skills, with basic English and Hindi for engaging diverse visitors.
- Responsible tourism practices, digital payments, and understanding tourist behavior (conducted by faculty from the Manyavar Kanshiram Institute of Tourism Management – MKITM).
The initiative responds to Ayodhya’s explosive growth as a pilgrimage and tourism destination since the Ram Temple consecration in 2024. With millions of devotees and tourists now arriving from across India (Delhi, Lucknow, West Bengal, Odisha, Kerala, and southern states) and even internationally, the Sarayu river—once used mainly for simple crossings and rituals—has become a key attraction for serene boat rides that offer panoramic views of the city and ghats.
Participants like Moolchandra shared the excitement: “We have been rowing boats here since our fathers’ time, but no one has ever called us guides. Now we are learning how to explain Ayodhya’s stories and keep tourists safe. It gives us respect.”
Fellow trainee Jagaram added: “People come here from Delhi, Lucknow and even from the South… Earlier we just took them across. Now, we can tell them why the Sarayu is sacred and how Ram Katha is linked to these ghats.”
Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh emphasized the broader vision: “Ayodhya’s story cannot be told without the Sarayu and those who live by it. By training boatmen in safety, communication and storytelling, we are preparing them to serve visitors from across India and abroad while preserving their traditional occupation.”
Upon completion, the trained boatmen receive official identity cards, formalizing their elevated role in Ayodhya’s tourism ecosystem. This not only boosts their income potential through enhanced services but also preserves generational knowledge and positions them as living custodians of the river’s cultural memory.
The programme is part of a statewide push to revitalize river-based tourism at religious sites. Similar batches have already trained boatmen in Chitrakoot (160 across two sessions in December 2025), Mirzapur (65), Chunar (over 60), and Bateshwar (nearly 40) in late 2025 and early 2026.
By empowering these heritage keepers of the Sarayu, Uttar Pradesh is ensuring that every boat ride becomes more than transport—it’s an immersive journey through faith, history, and living tradition, enriching the experience for pilgrims while uplifting local livelihoods in post-consecration Ayodhya.