The Mystery Behind River Ganga’s Purity

Kumbh Mela, one of the biggest religious gatherings in the world, is held periodically in 4 cities of India- Haridwar, Prayagraj, Ujjain, and Nashik. This year’s Kumbh Mela is being held at Prayagraj. About 150 million devotees are expected to take ‘the holy dip’ in the river Ganga during Kumbh 2019 (14 Jan 2019- 04 March 2019). According to the Hindu beliefs, River Ganga is a Holy River. Taking a ‘holy dip’ in the holy Ganga is believed to wash off one’s sins. Ganga’s water, traditionally known as ‘Gangajal’ is knwon to have self-cleansing and healing properties. There are several mythological narratives and folk tales on Ganga’s purity. But is there is any scientific explanation of the river’s purity.

In the year 1896, an English scientist, Ernest Hankin, observed that river ganga has something unique that can kill infection causing bacteria (such as the diarrhea-causing bacteria).

Later on, scientists found out that the water of river ganga i.e. Gangajal was heavily populated with a special kind of viruses called the bacteriophages. Bacteriophage are tiny viruses that eat bacteria. These viruses are harmless to human beings. They only kill disease-causing germs, like those that cause diarrhoea and cholera.

In a study, a group of scientists took water samples of the river Ganga, from the Gangotri glacier (in the higher Himalayas) and from the hilly regions of Rishikesh (located at the foothills of the Himalayas). The samples were either freshly collected or were 8 years or 16 years old. All the samples (fresh and old) were found to reduce the number of E.coli– a group of bacteria some strains of which can cause serious food poisoning and diarrhoea.

Shouldn’t we feel proud of our Natural Heritage? Indeed we should. But, there is another aspect of Maa Ganga that we need to be aware of.

In another study, at multiple locations Ganga has been found to be full of deadly bacteria. This is because we are discharging waste and pollutants in the river, and Ganga is losing its self-cleansing and healing properties. According to the latest report published in December 2018 by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), river Ganga was clean only at 1 out of 39 locations tested. At all other locations the river was either moderately or severely polluted. Whether we consider Ganga as ‘Maa Ganga’ or just as a river, all of us need to take the responsibility of keeping it clean. Speak up against anyone who irresponsibly pollutes Ganga. Speak up to the authorities for its timely clean-ups. Worshiping the Ganga will not save the problem of Ganga pollution.

Remember, humanity will only survive if the environment in which we live is unsoiled.

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