Hindus bathe in a sacred Indian temple containing poison foam | Gallery News

One of the most sacred rivers in India seems to be covered with snow. Except no.

The vast Yamuna River region contains white toxic bubbles, which are caused by pollutants emitted from weeping factories in New Delhi.

However, on Wednesday, hundreds of Hindu devotees stood up to their knees in its noisy, ugly waters, and were sometimes immersed in traditional rituals to celebrate Chhath Puja.

The 1,376-mile (855 km) Yamuna River is one of the most sacred rivers for Hindus. It is also among the most polluted in the world.

The river supplies more than half of New Delhi’s water, which threatens the health of its inhabitants. In recent years it has become increasingly dirty because many of the capital’s toilets, pesticides from neighboring countries, and industrial waste from industrial cities are flowing down the waterways despite laws to prevent pollution.

In a city that already has polluted air around the world, an unhealthy river is a major concern for many people. However, every year the worshipers go to the festival, which is dedicated to the sun-god and is ceremonially cleansed.

Rajesh Kumar Verma was one of those who prayed at the Yamuna bank on Wednesday. He knew that the water was dangerous, but he was still standing there, not afraid of the danger.

“What kind of fear? If we are scared, how can we pray? ” he said.

Authorities sent motorboats to spread the poison. He also built bamboo bars to prevent it from reaching the banks of rivers.

India’s capital city, with a population of over 20 million, is one of the most polluted cities in the world. Winter has especially been a time of health crisis as the city has a toxic fog blocking the atmosphere and air pollution reaching alarming proportions.

Also helpful are the farmers in the surrounding agricultural areas who burn their fields when they harvest to completely eliminate the coming cropping season.

“Delhi is full of pollution, but people’s lives are still going strong. Then, we will repeat our prayers, ”said volunteer Rajendra Mahto.

On Wednesday, the air index in New Delhi was “extremely poor,” according to SAFAR, India’s environmental watchdog.