{"id":38885,"date":"2026-03-07T11:39:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-07T19:39:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/?p=38885"},"modified":"2026-03-09T16:35:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T23:35:27","slug":"nari-nauka-creating-history-on-the-ganga","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2026\/03\/07\/nari-nauka-creating-history-on-the-ganga\/","title":{"rendered":"Nari Nauka: Creating History on the Ganga"},"content":{"rendered":"

I feel truly blessed to have been born and raised by the Ganga River in Sirasu Village, Rishikesh. Maa Ganga has always been a source of peace, strength, and healing in my life. Growing up close to nature and the river shaped my deep respect and love for water and taught me to listen to the river from a young age.<\/p>\n

I began my journey on the water as a kayaker at a young age. Through competitions and expeditions, I learned important river skills. Kayaking taught me discipline, con\ufb01dence, focus, and respect for the river. It helped me understand that the river is powerful and must always be treated with care.<\/p>\n

Before joining the Nari Nauka program, I had no interest in raft guiding. But everything changed the \ufb01rst time I sat on the guide seat, rowed the oar boat and paddle boat, and controlled a raft through big rapids. That moment opened a new door for me. It gave my journey a new direction and inspired me to continue today as both a kayaker and a professional raft guide.<\/p>\n

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Nari Nauka, which means \u201cWoman Boat\u201d <\/em>in Hindi, was launched in March 2024 and is India\u2019s \ufb01rst professional training program for female whitewater river guides. The program was created to empower women and create career opportunities in the adventure tourism industry on the Ganga River.<\/p>\n

For many years, river guiding on the Ganga was a male-dominated \ufb01eld. Having women as a professional guide was\u2014and still is\u2014extremely rare. Nari Nauka aims change this by helping Indian women develop the skills, con\ufb01dence and professional training needed to work safely and independently on the river.<\/p>\n

The program provides intensive hands-on training in river guiding, swiftwater rescue, and wilderness \ufb01rst aid. Participants learn how read the river, control a raft, stay calm under pressure and manage guest safety. The training also prepares women for international certi\ufb01cations, including the American Canoe Association (ACA) Paddle and Oar Guide certi\ufb01cations.<\/p>\n