save ganga

The way our population increased it is difficult that ganga will take all the load to disburse wastes and pollutants.When population was low all the economic development and agricultural developments happened at the banks of Ganga and Yamuna in northern india from centuries.
It was assumed that ganga has lot of curative powers and it can cure anyone who touched her.If we look at the reasoning behind it the path that it traverses from himalaya till the northern plains it traverses through himalaya's and the hills and forests of Uttarakhand.Anyway these hills and forests have plants with lot of medicinal value.Maybe that is the reason which justifies the healing and medicinal properties.
It is believed that bathing on certain occasions in Ganga specially at Haridwar,Allahabad and Kashi relieves the persons from sins and helps to attain salvation.Its still a practice today specially in hindus that after the death ganga water is put is poured in mouth so that person achieves moksha.
It also retains a high level of oxygen in the water but the reasons unknown so far.Probably that is the reason why all the hindus keep Ganga Jal in their homes and use it for purification of house from time to time and other important occasions.
But in todays context all these doesnt have mach relevance.If we see the major polluting places it is mainly Haridwar,Kanpur, Allahabad and Varansi. Haridwar is mainly affected with human pollutants like bathing and perfoming the last rites.In Kanpur which is a major cause of worry because of leather industry passing their wastage in the river and which will ultimately be main reason for people loosing their faith and river ganga loosing it sheen and charm which was held since vedic days.

Government of India announced the Ganga Action Plan with crores of rupees fund to cleanse river Ganga.But nothing happened so war.Its a same state of affairs.We are in process of loosing a way of life,a civilisation and a great culture like Kartik Snan,Kumbh,Chatt Puja etc.
We need to seriously look at this and put all our efforts to preserve the heritage.Gift of King Bhagirath and blessings of all the gods specially Loed Vishnu to Ganga Maiya has to be preserved for the future generation.

Ganga my influence on childhood memory

I remember during my childhood that is almost 30 years back,when I used to visit my dusty village on the bank of river Ganga in Varansi district of UP.It was a way of life starting a day for village folks.You cant imagine a life without that river.In the morning all the socially active people used to meet at the ganges.Different interests group attracted the people from all walks of life.If it was a adolescent ones they had all the reason to be there in there best form as nubiles would visit alongwith there mothers or grandmother.A glimpse of a face in dupatta or saree would make there day.Exercising and pushups in the white sands was more to create an impression in the minds of young and unmarried girls than a healthy way of life.Probably fitness and being healthy was at the back of there mind.

Another group of young ones would brush there teeth with "Neem Datun" and have a round or two of "Kushti".Some of them were heroes of local "Dangals" a la great Khali.After this they would take a dip in Ganga with a reverence of mother.Jai Ganga Maiyya.

A little intellectuals would carry the edition of "Aaj" and discuss the local and national politics sitting on stone under the banyan tree.Acchey chacha was only listener and very important part of this group.Carrying a long "Neem Ka Datun" he would endlessly brush and scrub his teeth till it became a 5cm's in size.It would take a minimum of one hr to complete this exercise.I always used to accompany him as I had become used to this lifestyle.Frankly speaking in my summer holidays when I used to visit my village from Pratapgarh where my father was working,I really longed for this kind of outing.A fresh cool breeze when you walked towards the river still refreshes my face today also.Passing through the lanes where people sitting on the pavements of there houses,it was a customary to greet everyone.My chacha also got his ego boosted as I was the only child among the same age group of village who can read and write English.Oh! that days were full of joy cool and carefree.

Recently I had to visit the village again due to some family function.I had a deep desire to revisit and experience the whole magic.I was excited like a young child from the night itself about the pleasant morning.And then the morning arrived and I asked my Chachaji to come alongwith me but he refused because of his old age and poor health.I decided that I will go myself and took the "Gamcha" and put on my shoulders.I decided that I will take a "Neem ka datun" from the third left turn towards the Ganga Maiya.But Alas! that tree was not there.I thought maybe I will get a little ahead.But sorry without any success.Finally I decided not to brush my teeth.

To my utter dismay whole environment and activity which reverberated the life of village had vanished.It wa s all empty,no pahalwans,no akhara's,no groups discussing politics.In fact even the water had lost its glow.It was not the same water,almost black as if dirty water coming out my washing machine.I took the same water in my palms and could'nt believe it,was it the same water which we kept in our houses to purify our soul.??????No it wasnt the same.I decided that I had to wash my hands with dettol soap so that I do not carry any infections with me.