The Maha Kumbh, Devotion, and the Degradation of Ganga
Rivers, ponds, lakes and streams - they all have different names, but they all contain water. Just as religions do - they all contain truths. - Muhammed Ali
As India rejoiced in a spectacle of faith, devotion and joy over once in a century Maha Kumbh Mela, the banks of River Ganga paid a hefty price for the jubilation. Beneath the veneer of spiritual celebration lies a stark reality, the ecological collapse of a monumental river that holds a very special place in the cultural ethos of India. Reports after reports have been published contesting the purity and sanctity of Ganga but a grim truth is exposed. The alarming levels of faecal bacteria in the water is 13 times over the safe bathing limit, making it extremely unfit for consumption, bathing or any sort of external use. This is undoubtedly the direct consequence of the immense congregation of devotees at the festival.
GOVERNING A WATER BODY

In the rich and diverse religious landscape of India, The Ganga revered as a goddess, a living deity for the masses yet the ironical onslaught of human waste, toxic chemical dumping and agricultural run off added to the sheer scale of an event the size of Maha Kumbh raise a very fundamental question: can devotion justify the desecration of nature and if yes, what is the limit to the damages we, as humanity, can afford to bear?
While the alarming pollution of the river may be seen as an environmental concern, one cannot turn a blind eye to the political dimensions and the sorry state of affairs that helm the crisis. While the right wing government has been busy promoting the Maha Kumbh as a generational success and a political victory, they have conveniently forgotten about the environmental repercussions the event has set off. The organizers have adopted a short term vision of development that will, at most, benefit the 4 years of rule their party will enjoy at the center as they actively encouraged the shadowing of sustainable practices, opting for the unquestionable rhetoric of development, tourism and economic gain.
CONCLUSION
Reports by concerned organizations and individuals are urging for continuous monitoring and treatment of the waste water, and public cooperation yet these fall prey to the bureaucratic inertia that has plagued our agencies. While the government boasts about religious supremacy and upholds Ganga as a symbol of national unity, the river continues to fall prey to political apathy and unchecked religious frenzy.
Nature has long since paid the price for human hubris. What was once a symbol of purity, pride and a way for sustenance for millions of people, is now in total environmental degradation, mirroring the moral decay of our political system and the players within.
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