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INDIA-RELIGION-POLLUTION
Escaping death and rebirth on Varanasi’s sacred riverbanks
VARANASI, India, Nov 23, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Boats loaded with wood arrive
almost constantly at the ghats of Varanasi for around 200 cremations per day
on the banks of India’s holy Ganges river.
Each pyre needs between 200 and 400 kilogrammes (440 and 880 pounds) of
wood, meaning the sacred city in northern India burns through as much as 80
tonnes every day.
To reduce the volume used, as well as air and water pollution, authorities
have tried to push the use of alternative burning materials such as cow-dung.
But without much success.
“People have to be sensitised about the emissions caused by wood burning.
Only then can this issue be tackled,” said Vivek Chattopadhyay, pollution
expert at the Centre for Science and Environment.
For centuries Hindus have visited Varanasi to cremate their dead so that
they can achieve “moksha”, the release from the cycle of death and rebirth.
As the bodies wrapped in white shroud and marigold flowers turn to ash, the
remains are collected and sprinkled in the river.
At the ghats, the Doms — caretakers of the cremation grounds — pass
flaming torches to the families of the deceased, who ignite the wooden pyres
dotting the riverside.
Anything encroaching on the tradition can set tempers flaring.
Electric crematoriums introduced in 1989 as part of the “Clean Ganga”
action plan have not found many takers in spite of the lower cost — around
$6 compared to $60-70 — and being less polluting.
“Since Varanasi is a sacred city, people want to stick to the strict
rituals and don’t want to adopt these new methods of cremation,” said Nitin
Bansal, municipal commissioner of Varanasi.
On average only five to seven bodies are cremated every day in the electric
crematoriums.
BSS/AFP/MRI/0933 hrs