India’s Hindus defy warnings, bathe in holy river defiled by waste: ‘you will fall sick’
Thousands of people entered the stinking waters to pray in a religious festival, with some drinking the water
Thousands celebrated the festival of Chhath Puja for the Hindu sun god Surya, entering the stinking waters to pray as the evening rays set in the sky.
A parliamentary report in February called the Yamuna “more of a toxic waterway than a river”, saying the foam clouds were formed from a potent chemical soup including laundry detergent and phosphates from fertilisers.
“Please understand you will fall sick”, a High Court order said on Wednesday, Indian media reported, restricting ritual bathing on health grounds. “We can’t allow you to go into the water.”
But housewife Krishnawati Devi, 45, said she was not worried.
“I believe the waters of the river are pure and blessed by the sun god himself,” she said. “Nothing will happen to me – god will take care of everything.”
