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166 visits


By the Ganges

By the Ganges

m̌ ḫ, Nouchetdu38, trester88, Patrick Brandy and 7 other people have particularly liked this photo


8 comments - The latest ones
 William Sutherland
William Sutherland club
Exceptional capture!

Admired in: www.ipernity.com/group/tolerance
6 months ago.
 Annemarie
Annemarie club
wonderful
6 months ago.
 Patrick Brandy
Patrick Brandy club
Belle prise de vue bonne journée.
6 months ago.
 m̌ ḫ
m̌ ḫ club
I have always been curious whether these people actually get sick from drinking water from the Ganges. I also find it hard to understand how Hindus consider the water sacred, yet pollute it more than perhaps any other nation does.
5 months ago.
Howard Somerville club has replied to m̌ ḫ club
Are they drinking it?? If so, they must have an immunity to Cholera and other deadly water-borne diseases.

As for how they consider it (or anything else) sacred, this cannot be understood outside the mind-set of religious belief, a herd-mentality which overrules human reason. This applies to all religious beliefs and practices.
5 months ago. Edited 5 months ago.
m̌ ḫ club has replied to Howard Somerville club
Yes, I believe they do -- see the couple at the top end of the photo... At least they gargle it -- which would be bad enough for any Westerner.
5 months ago.
Howard Somerville club has replied to m̌ ḫ club
Google says:

Most Indians do not drink from the Ganges river directly because it is heavily polluted and considered unsafe, though some may drink it after purification.
5 months ago.
m̌ ḫ club has replied to Howard Somerville club
I think it depends, how do you put your question. If you ask "Do Indians drink water from the Ganges?" it can mean, if majority of 1.5 billion people use the river water as the drinking water... which would be totally stupid.

Asking the AI "Do devotees drink from the Ganges during Hindu rituals?" the answer would be

Many Hindu devotees drink water from the Ganges as part of religious rituals, especially during major festivals like Kumbh Mela, where it is common to take a sip or collect water for blessings and purification. Drinking from the Ganges is believed to bring luck and cleanse sins, reflecting deep faith in the sacred river's spiritual power.​

Ritual Practices
Devotees often drink a small amount of Ganges water during major religious events and personal rituals, believing in its divine ability to purify and heal.​

Many pilgrims fill bottles with Ganges water to take home, using it for temple rituals, ceremonies, and personal blessings.​

The act of drinking, bathing in, and using the river's water is seen as a direct connection to the goddess Ganga, who personifies the river and its spiritual purity.​

Safety and Public Health
Despite religious beliefs, the Ganges is heavily polluted with industrial and urban waste, making untreated water unsafe for regular consumption in most places.​

Health officials and scientists warn against drinking untreated Ganges water due to risk of diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and hepatitis.​

Some devotees maintain faith in the river’s purity, believing divine power protects them, while others are more cautious about its physical safety.​

Cultural Importance
Water from the Ganges, known as "Ganga Jal," plays a central role in Hindu religious ceremonies across India, symbolizing spiritual cleansing and divine blessing.​

The tradition has persisted for centuries, illustrating how faith often guides behavior even in the face of environmental challenges.
5 months ago.

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