Comments on: Life Along The Ganges River In Varanasi, India.

By: Nisa

Nisa — Sun, 22 May 2016 15:35:37 +0000

I guess I’m lucky to be alive, since I’ve visited this “health hazard” more than a dozen times over shorter and longer periods of time ;) We all have our opinions and I think it would be best, to just not visit India if this is how you feel. Have you actually been to India? If so, where about?

By: Yves Larose

Yves Larose — Mon, 16 May 2016 00:27:19 +0000

Not the part about Indians stinking though.

By: Yves Larose

Yves Larose — Mon, 16 May 2016 00:24:07 +0000

I agree with Jen. Disgusting! It’s a heath hazard.

By: Nisa

Nisa — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 12:04:57 +0000

I’m sorry you feel that way Jenn!
Have you ever been to India yourself? I think that it’s very harsh from you to say that the Indian culture is “disgusting”. One has to accept that people & cultures (and therefore also their rituals) are different and we have to accept that. This sometimes means that while travelling out of the comfort zone, you might experience things you’re not used to. It’s true that the Ganges is not a clean river, yet it is still the lifeline for millions of Indians. Very often they can’t chose where to bathe, simply because there is no alternative. I would agree that people can take countermeasures, and dead bodies should not be put into the river, but therefore much more is needed then the will of just one person…There is a believe behind this ritual.
I think that it’s important to see how other people across the globe live and what their daily life is like. And along the Ganges river, this is “normal”…
And as said before, I think you’re biased because India has one of the richest cultures in the world.
Best, Nisa

By: Jenn

Jenn — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 22:45:26 +0000

No wonder Indian people stink! What a disgusting culture. I can not believe people would bathe and have their children in a river with dead bodies rotting, not to mention all the deficating these people do in it. Just plain repulsive!

By: Nisa

Nisa — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 12:07:30 +0000

Hello Karthik!
I agree that the dead bodies shouldn’t be put into the Ganges…but I guess this is an old tradition and has to do with the believe, therefore it’s gonna be hard to change this.
Thanks for the explanation too!
Best, Nisa

By: Karthik

Karthik — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 21:26:03 +0000

Thanks so much for writing about my country, to add on…It’s said that River Ganga’s water will never be spoiled for years. For example, its a belief to pour at least few drops of Ganga water into dead peoples mouth (people who are in South India or far away from Ganges). I saw a bowl of water for 30 years fresh…is it not magical? But India should really think of stopping to make bodies float…that’s disgusting.

By: Nisa

Nisa — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 11:09:16 +0000

Hi Sally!
I know what you mean, but it’s part of the culture in India and you get used to it if you’re there more often…
Best, Nisa

By: sally

sally — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 12:44:36 +0000

the dead people are scary and gross…

By: Nisa

Nisa — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 18:27:20 +0000

Couldn’t agree more ;)