(VOVWORLD) - Varanasi of India, one of the world's oldest cities, is a popular tourist destination rich in cultural heritage. The millions of people who come here each year to explore the city’s history, tourist sites, and seek spiritual refuge in the Ganges River. Hindus believe that bathing in the Ganges at least once in their lifetime is a spiritual imperative that can wash away their sins and negative karma. We talked with Bittu Kumar at the local U.P. tourism office about life on the banks of the Ganges.
 Hindus believe life is incomplete without bathing in the Ganga at least once in their lifetime. (Photo: Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP) |
Bao Tram: Thanks, Bittu, for the interview. After half an hour taking a boat trip on the Ganges River, I witnessed the deep spiritual significance of the river for Indians, the diverse cultures and traditions that have flourished on its banks, and the environmental challenges. Now to help me and our listeners know more, first tell us the reasons why so many people, both Indians and tourists, want to come to this place?
Bittu: Life in Varanasi is very spiritual. Varanasi is different because the city belongs to Shiva, the Hindu god. Shiva is the main god of Hinduism and Varanasi has belonged to Shiva for more than 3,000 years. There are many reasons to come to Varanasi as a Hindu or as a tourist. There are so many things to know about the religion – Shiva Temple, cremation, the Ganges… The Ganges is a sacred river. It comes from the Himalayas, from heaven, directly from the head of Shiva. If you see a picture of Shiva, you’ll see water coming from his head. That’s the Ganges River.
 One of the two cremation sites on the Ganges River in Varanasi. (Photo: Bao Tram) |
Bao Tram: What’s the most interesting thing about Varanasi?
Bittu: The most interesting thing is that in Varanasi on one side is life and on the other side is death – cremation. That is the truth of life, and at the same time you can see the boat life there. So, if you’re confused in your life, you can solve your problem. Whatever Indians want, they’ll definitely find it in Varanasi because Hinduism says that after cremation comes reincarnation.
 Flower bowls with oil lamps prepared to release onto the Ganges River in Varanasi (Photo: Bao Tram) |
Bao Tram: What do people do during the day and in the evening along the Ganges River?
Bittu: People come to the river all day for spiritual reasons – rituals and things like that. But the morning is different. Morning is very important because of the Sun. Sunrise is a very important time for Hindus, who worship the Sun. Local people and pilgrims from all over India and from all over the world come here, and at sunrise – or 10 or 15 minutes before sunrise – they take a deep plunge in the river. While taking their plunge in the river, when the Sun comes up, they offer the river water to the rising Sun and pray for life and for forgiveness of their sins. People promise God and the Ganges River that they will purify themselves and start a new life and never hurt anyone again. That’s the importance of Varanasi. People come to Varanasi to purify themselves and promise the Ganges, Shiva, and the Ganga goddess that they won’t hurt others anymore. It’s a kind of repentance. People repent in life and that's why they come here – to purify their body, wash away their sins, and make a vow to the Ganges and to Shiva. In the evening, we perform a special ceremony called aarti, which means to thank the God and Goddess for the day.
 People gather at the religious Ganges aarti in the evening at the river bank (Photo: Getty/Bambam Kumar Jha) |
Bao Tram: What has the government done to preserve religious practices and at the same time protect the river environment?
Bittu: The government is doing a good job. They have a lot of equipment and a lot of boats to collect garbage. Hindus like to throw flowers into the river because flowers are a suitable gift for God. So, there are a lot of those things in the river. The government has people to collect garbage from the river and clean the banks. Lately the water level has been going down. The government has a department to clean the banks, usually in October. The banks are very clean then and you can walk. Cleanliness is very important to the government. The government keeps urging people to clean their cities, clean their homes, clean their doors. There are departments to clean public areas.
 The Ganges River is the most sacred river to Hindus and a lifeline to millions of Indians who live along its banks and depend on it for their daily needs. (Photo: Bao Tram) |
Bao Tram: Do you think that the tradition of releasing flowers into the water as a gift to God is not good for the Ganges River?
Bittu: It’s a matter of belief, part of a ritual. The government doesn’t really want flowers in the Ganges, but the people believe differently. But lately people are becoming aware of the problem and what the government is saying and they’re starting to follow the government’s advice.
It’s my city, so I'm very aware of the problem. But people who don’t live in Varanasi, who come from a different part of India, don't think about the problem. And we can't be too strict with them. We can’t speak harshly to them or rough them up because it would create bad karma. So, we just tell them softly and gently “please keep our city clean, don’t litter”.
Bao Tram: Thank you, Bittu, for helping us understand the Ganges River’s importance to Indian people.