River Ganga - My Story

I am the daughter of heavens - My name is Ganga. After the penance of Raja Bhagirath I came down to Earth. The great lord Shiva gave me a place on his head, and from there I stepped down in my complete glory - sparkling and clear.

From the Gangotri, I flow down the Himalayas to the ay of Bengal. People worship me, offer me flowers, bathe in my waters (as they believe that a bath in my waters will clean them of their sins).

All that love and worship on one hand but while offering flowers to me, they do not think where these will go. Sediment keeps raising my riverbed, making it shallower and shallower. On top of this, throughout the day, huge sewage drains throw out all the filth of toilets and bathrooms into me. Solid waste in the form of cans, plastic bags, vegetable peels all are thrown into me. Where is all these garbage coming from? Where are my children? They should be here to save me. How much can I take? I am turning into a drain these days. All the small water animals inside me are dying. After some years, people will say, once upon a time, there was a river that used to flow here - the holy river Ganga.

-   Shambhavi

On the banks of Ganga

Gobar Times reporter, Swati, speaks with Chandu Pandey, a pujari at Dasashwamedh Ghat

Gobar Times: How long have you been in this profession?
Chandu Pandey: 12 years

GT: What changes have taken place? 

CP: Pollution in th eriver has increased, boats have increased and traditions have changed.
GT: Do you agree how the government plans to clean the Ganga?
CP: Yes, I do.

GT: the government says it will have to break down the old buildings on the ghat to build tanks to clean the water. Do you agree with this?
CP: No, I don't want the old buildings to be destroyed but I want my Ganga clean too.

GT: Can you give some ideas?
CP: No, but the government should do something else.