Pollution in Varanasi is threatening the River Ganges
An ancient city standing on the colossal river Ganges: Varanasi is one of the most hectic cities in the world and is not for the faint hearted. If you’re planning a trip to India, it is a city not to be missed. Varanasi is the holiest of Hindu cities, bursting with culture, a labyrinth of alley ways and steep stair cases called ‘Ghats’ which lead down to the ‘Ma Ganga’ as it is said in Hindi. It’s difficult to navigate without fear of being knocked down by a rickshaw, or running in to one of the cities thousands of roaming cows. But as phenomenal as this three thousand year old civilisation is, there is one serious problem which threatens the Ganga. Pollution.
(Photo courtesy of Toshi Ono)
Ma Ganga begins high in the Himalayas, but as it winds to its mouth at the Bay of Bengal, the more toxic the waters become. The Ganges seen as holy water by Hindus and so it is strange that the people of India have allowed this deterioration. There is an ancient ceremonial practice which takes place at the ‘Burning Ghats’ along the river: Hindu cremations, twenty four hours a day. The air thick with smoke from the hastily constructed sandal wood pyres. It is believed that being cremated on the banks of Ma Ganga will end the reincarnation process, which Hindus believe in. It has been estimated that more than three hundred tonnes of half-burned human flesh is discarded in the Ganges every year-but this is only one source of pollution. Francesca Hassall visited Varanasi whilst backpacking in Asia. She spoke about Varanasi in a bittersweet manner. “The open creations were very shocking, I was sat in a lassi (natural yoghurt) shop, and a dead body was carried past to be taken down the Ganges. It was very bizarre. And to see the remains eaten by stray dogs or scraped in to the amazing river is very upsetting.”
Crematory remains is just one of several issues which effect the Ganges. 450 million people live in the region of the Ganges, and the Ganges is the sewerage system which carries away the untreated waste of all of these people. Tanneries flush away disintegrating flesh and the carcinogenic chrome which is used to treat the leather. Farms, factories and general waste are also contributing.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, declared that he would be dedicating the equivalent £2 million to a project called ‘Clean Ganga Mission’ which would take place over a five year period. Francesca said: “The pollution is awful. The Ganges is so stunning and deserves to be treated with more respect, but that will only come through educating people on the importance of being eco-friendly.”
Francesca explained how, despite the pollution, and general mess in Varanasi and around the Ganges, it didn’t put her off the city. “It hasn’t tainted my view. It’s all part of it, as a traveller you want to go to places that are as different to our Western culture as possible and Varanasi certainly lives up to that expectation.”
(Photo courtesy of PIVISO)









