Pilgrim ‘offerings’ contaminate Bhagirathi & Yamuna in Gangotri & Yamunotri
SURENDRA PAL SINGH | Uttarkashi
Volunteers of the Ganga Vichar Manch, Uttarakhand have expressed concern at pilgrims leaving garbage including clothes and other offerings in the Bhagirathi and Yamuna rivers at Gangotri and Yamunotri respectively. Saris, bangles and puja items are ‘offered’ to the Goddesses Gang and Yamuna by pilgrims. However, the synthetic clothes, plastic items and the waste left behind by the pilgrims is contaminating these two important rivers.
Since Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham were reopened for pilgrims on April 30, more than 10,000 people have been visiting these two shrines daily. Along with paying obeisance at the temples, devotees also make offerings to the rivers. In Yamunotri, women pilgrims ‘offer’ saris, bangles, combs and vermillion to the Yamuna while at Gangotri the pilgrims ‘offer’ dhotis, clothes, coconuts, garlands and waste left behind after puja to the river goddess. A considerable quantity of synthetic clothes and plastic items are being thrown into both these rivers which is affecting the health of the rivers which are not only considered sacred by millions but also provide water for drinking and irrigation to millions beyond Uttarakhand.
Ganga Vichar Manch members said that pilgrims are unknowingly harming the rivers and environment, which needs to be stopped. The clothes and other items offered to the goddesses should be given to the temple committee which can then provide these to the needy. Volunteers also requested the pilgrims to abstain from ‘offering’ any clothes or plastic items to the rivers but the practice continues.
At a time when the number of pilgrims arriving in Gangotri and Yamunotri is consistently increasing every year, environmentalists point out that concrete steps must be taken to prevent the contamination of these rivers. The waste from temporary shops, leftovers from eateries and other garbage is also being dumped into the Bhagirathi and Yamuna, they point out, adding that the authorities must step in to check this.
