Categories
India People Photography

Ritual Washing on the Ganges, India

People washing along the Ganges in Varanassi, India
People washing along the Ganges in Varanasi, India

There is perhaps nowhere else on earth that can replicate what happens every morning along the Ganges river in Varanasi India. The Ganges is India’s national river, it is also the largest river in the Indian sub continent.

More importantly it is the most sacred river in the world for all Hindus.

It is here in Varanasi that many Hindus come to die. Their bodies cremated along the shore, and their ashes placed into the river.

It is also said that the water from the Ganges can heal the sick or dying.Washing in the Ganges is said to rid a person of their sins.

Everyday life along the Ganges in Varanasi is one of the most colorful, fascinating places on earth.

One reply on “Ritual Washing on the Ganges, India”

There are those that are working hard now to clean up the Ganges. They seek to create and enforce more stringent pollution laws for industries as well as for cities and towns that discharge raw and untreated sewage into the river. With 400 million people dependent upon her waters and a population that is second only to China in size it is imperative the Ganges River be cleaned up. This is no longer a matter of a few pilgrims, farmers, factory owners, or local people who use the water. We humans are killing the Goddess…and now we’re facing diminished seasonal water from the Tibetan Plateau as a result of shrinking glaciers from climate change.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *