Religious Tourism on the Banks of Gange
As we all know that amongst Hindu devotees, River Ganges has great importance. Therefore several destinations in India from where these sacred river passes have become popular among believers. Places like Varanasi, Haridwar, Gangotri, Allahabad, and Rishikesh have significance for Hindu devotees. Where Allahabad and Haridwar are known for organizing the grand fair called Kumbh Mela, Varanasi is considered a gateway to heaven. People from distant places travel Varanasi and Haridwar to immerse the ashes of their kin in the waters of the Gange. People also carry the water of the river home considering it holy. These cities situated on the different banks of River Ganges are even visited by travel enthusiasts who take a keen interest in the culture of India.
image credit: Harshit Sharma
Ganga as a Hub of Adventure Tourism
Ganga becomes a source of adventure in Rishikesh. The fast flowing emerald water helps adventure buffs to enjoy activities like river rafting, kayaking, and body surfing.
Deteriorating Condition of Ganga: Who is Responsible?
These are amongst some of the important aspects of Ganga. Being a life-giving source in India, the river places a large number of other big and small roles in the environment and ecosystem of the country. Sadly, the condition of Ganga is gradually deteriorating and climate change, pollution and illegal mining of the waterbed are the reasons behind it. If we see, more than 95% of the upper Gangetic Plain has been degraded or converted to agriculture or urban areas. According to experts, if the degradation persists, it will be a difficult task to pull River Ganga out from the confines of pollution and global warming. Yes, many projects are in process to keep Ganga out of danger but all endeavours are vague, if we do not cooperate. We cannot do much on a large scale as an individual yet our small contributions can make way for bigger changes in future. The image below shows what River Ganga has been going through all these years, if you care enough read further for simple measures that each individual can take to help keep this sacred river clean.
What Can We Do to Save River Ganges?
Responsible Tourism:
We need to abide by this type of tourism. Let us become responsible for every action that we take while we travel. We have to stop disposing non-biodegradable products in the water, people do not even think once before disposing plastic bags and other non-biodegradable in river in the name of religion. But now is the time to make a change, we should put a curb on our habit of throwing anything and everything in the water.
Create Awareness:
If you want to help protect the rivers, you can help by creating awareness about the problem among your friends and people you know. As already mentioned earlier, people are often unaware of the things that are harmful for the environment. Therefore, the more we will talk about the problem the greater the chances are that people will gain some knowledge about the effect of their actions on the environment and eventually, stop acting irresponsibly.
Let us all today pledge to save not only Ganga but all the water bodies and our environment as a whole. Always remember that small changes collectively bring big changes.
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