Sprinkling of Ganges Water can Restore Divineness or Not:A Quest For

Abstract

Water of the Ganges river is considered as holy and thus this river water is offered in pujas, tarpan, etc., by the Hindus. The fantastic difference of the Ganges water with freshwater of the other sources like ponds, tube-wells, springs, other streams, etc., is observed, when the water of the Ganges is stored for years, in closed can or bottles. In such condition Ganges water is not spoiled, without development of any algae, fungi, or bacteria; whereas in water from other sources it happens. Since thousand years past, a dip or bath in Ganga, or even sprinkling few drops Ganga water over the body is believed to remove all dirt, evils or sins and restore holiness or divineness in human. Taking holiness or divineness synonym to purity or cleanliness, a review is possible to assess the cleaning or purifying capacity of the Ganges water; consulting a good number of publications by workers and scientists in last two decades. The observations are on physio-chemical, as well as microbiological properties of the water taken at different sites of the river length.

The healing or purifying capacity is related with water quality; which again depends upon two major classes of components. First, physio-chemical property, and second, the microbial components of the water used. Beside turbidity, temperature and pH, which varies between different sites on the river length, the water contains a good number of minerals like Ca₂, Mg₂, SO₄, NO₃, Chlorides and Fluorides, etc. Further, the total hardness and total alkalinity of water also have their significant role in controlling different types of germs and microbes. The microbial contents of the river water include different types of algae, fungi, bacteria, protozoans, etc. At places even this water contains dangerous bacteria like faecal coliform and faecal streptococci.

Actually the river stream is polluted at some places, receiving industrial wastes and domestic refuse, and in some places it is autocleaned in touch with earth, exposure to ultraviolate rays (from the Sun) and dissolved oxygen. This is concluded that bath in the safe areas would definitely help to reduce load of germs. But sprinkling few drops of Ganges water would do very little in that regard. Rather, it may be even counterproductive, in case these are contaminated with dangerous microbes.