Sewage Drains Polluting Ganga and Yamuna in Prayagraj
– Akhilesh Tripathi/Lucknow
In anticipation of the Mahakumbh to be held next year in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, the Akhada Parishad has decided to impose a ban on the entry of Muslims and their business activities during the event. However, the Ganga and Yamuna rivers, on whose banks the Mahakumbh will take place, are currently flowing in a polluted state. This situation is seen as a major disregard for the Hindu devotees.
The Mahakumbh is held alternately in Haridwar, Allahabad (Prayagraj), Ujjain, and Nashik. It occurs every 12 years, while Ardh Kumbh is held every six years. The event is organised by the governments of respective states. A large fair is set up along the riverbanks, where monks, saints, Shankaracharyas, Naga Sadhus, and members of Akhada Parishad gather to take a holy dip in the rivers and perform prayers.
The upcoming Mahakumbh is scheduled to take place in Prayagraj in 2025 (13 January-26 February), organised by the BJP-led government of Uttar Pradesh. The state government is investing billions of rupees in the event. A significant security force has been deployed to ensure the safety of the Mahakumbh. A temporary city has been established for the event, with a designated DM and SP appointed to oversee its management. The state government has also arranged for healthcare services during the Mahakumbh.
For the first time, however, the Akhada Parishad, a prominent organisation of monks and saints, has decided to restrict the entry of Muslims and ban their businesses during the Mahakumbh. In a two-day meeting, representatives from all 13 Akhadas of the Parishad convened and unanimously called for the prohibition of Muslim entry into the Mahakumbh and decided to ban Muslim-run businesses.
Additionally, the Parishad alleges that, in the past, some Muslims were observed disguising themselves as saints during the Kumbh Mela. Therefore, it was decided that anyone entering the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj must undergo a verification process, and no one should be allowed entry without a valid ID proof. The Parishad also requested the UP government to strengthen the security arrangements for monks and saints at the Mahakumbh.
The reasoning behind the demand to ban the entry of Muslims and their businesses at the Mahakumbh is that, during the Kanwar Yatra, some Muslims allegedly did not serve pure vegetarian food at their hotels and roadside eateries to the pilgrims. Instead, they reportedly served meat-based dishes, which was seen as disrespectful to the religious sentiments of the Hindu devotees. Because of this, the decision was made to keep Muslims from the Mahakumbh, and also ban their businesses during the event.
However, this justification doesn’t apply to everyone. It seems more likely that the real motive is to isolate Muslims from society and weaken their economic standing. The BJP might also have a role in this decision, as the monks and saints associated with the Parishad had a meeting with the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, afterward. This decision can be easily understood as part of a broader agenda.
All India Muslim Jamaat’s National President, Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, has urged the UP government to revoke the decision made by the Akhada Parishad. He stated, “The upcoming fair is a cause for celebration. Everyone wants the event to take place in an atmosphere of peace and harmony. The fair symbolises bringing people together and should not be marred by communal issues. However, it is regrettable that the Parishad has announced that no Muslim shops will be allowed at the fair. This decision by the Parishad is deeply disturbing for millions of people across the country. If such divisive decisions are made and sectarianism is promoted, it will push society to the brink of collapse. A divided society will cause significant harm to the nation.”
Maulana Razvi added, “The decision by the Parishad promotes communalism. Such statements and decisions encourage division within society. I urge the state government to ensure that the Akhada Parishad’s decision is overturned and to take strict action against those spreading communalism.”
Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati has supported the decision of the Akhada Parishad to restrict the entry of Muslims and ban their businesses at the Mahakumbh. In Varanasi, he remarked, “The pilgrimage sites for the Muslim religion are Makkah and Madinah. Hindus are stopped 40 kilometres away from Makkah. When Muslims prevent Hindus from entering Makkah, they say it is their holy site, so what is your purpose there? Similarly, the Kumbh Mela is our sacred gathering, so what is your purpose here? They were the ones who first imposed restrictions; as the saying goes, ‘What are you doing in my courtyard?’ Well, we have our courtyard too, so let us live our way.”
The Shankaracharya’s statement regarding the Mahakumbh has stirred controversy, as it signals his support for the Parishad’s decision. However, his comparison doesn’t entirely hold up in this context. Makkah and Madinah are in another country, so it is a matter for the government of that nation to address. This, however, is an issue within India, where Hindus and Muslims have lived together for centuries, sharing and celebrating each other’s festivals, and standing by one another in times of joy and sorrow.
The Akhada Parishad is attempting to introduce a new tradition at the Mahakumbh, which is inappropriate. Such actions could foster communalism and potentially harm the country. It is necessary to avoid initiating such divisive practices.
The Parishad is putting all its efforts into banning the entry of Muslims and restricting their businesses at the Mahakumbh. However, the essential element for bathing in the holy waters of the Ganges to earn spiritual merit and perform worship is pure Ganga water, which is not available in its pure form in Prayagraj. The Ganges water in Prayagraj is no longer even fit for ritual sipping (aachman) during worship. The water flowing in the Ganges at Prayagraj is highly polluted. Yet, the Akhada Parishad shows no concern about ensuring the purity of the Ganges.
In UP, sewage waste is being discharged at various points into the Ganges, causing severe pollution. The quality of Ganges water has deteriorated significantly due to this pollution. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) itself has noted that millions of litres of sewage water are being dumped daily into the Ganges and its tributaries in UP. The NGT has ordered the Chief Secretary of UP to submit an affidavit with immediate measures to address this issue and prevent further contamination within four weeks. Additionally, the NGT has scheduled a hearing on this matter for January 20, 2025.
Interestingly, the Mahakumbh is set to begin on Makar Sankranti, around January 14 or 15, 2025. Despite this, sadhus, Naga saints, Shankaracharyas, spiritual leaders, and the saints associated with the Parishad will be taking dips in the polluted Ganga water and performing rituals. They may be seeking to earn merit, yet none of them seem concerned about the purity of the Ganga water. In an order issued on November 6, NGT Chairman Justice Prakash Srivastava noted that the Ganga water in Prayagraj is no longer fit for ritual sipping. There are 25 open drains discharging sewage into the Ganges and 15 into the Yamuna in the district. According to a report from the UP government, there is a gap of 128 million litres per day (MLD) in the treatment of sewage waste in Prayagraj district.
Justice Srivastava’s order highlights the irony of the situation: the faith of Hindus at the Mahakumbh is at risk as polluted water flows in the Ganges and Yamuna. Despite this, sadhus, Naga saints, Shankaracharyas, and spiritual leaders may still think they are earning spiritual merit by bathing in these waters. They seem unaware of the pollution in the Ganges and Yamuna, and their quest for merit is being compromised. Meanwhile, religious leaders, preoccupied with targeting Muslims, appear oblivious to the actual issue. All parties involved are turning a blind eye to the reality, while religious leaders exploit the situation to advance their political agendas.
Regarding the upcoming Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, there is ongoing discussion about the pollution levels in the Ganges and Yamuna rivers, which are contaminated with sewage. Bathing and performing rituals in this polluted water doesn’t seem appropriate. It is the responsibility of the BJP government in UP to keep these rivers clean and free from pollution. However, the government appears to be neglecting this duty.
If sadhus, Naga saints, Shankaracharyas, and other spiritual leaders realise that the Ganges and Yamuna are polluted and that sewage is being discharged into them in Prayagraj, it could create a storm. These religious figures might boycott the Mahakumbh, which could become a major issue for the BJP government in UP. To divert attention from this critical issue, the BJP government, through the Akhada Parishad, has deliberately raised the matter of banning Muslims’ entry and restricting their businesses at the Mahakumbh. The Yogi government seems to believe that focusing on the Muslim issue will distract people from the pollution problem in the Ganges and Yamuna, allowing the Mahakumbh to proceed smoothly.
The BJP and its governments often portray themselves as staunch proponents of Hindutva and claim to be the greatest benefactors of Hindus. However, by arranging for Hindus to bathe and perform rituals in the polluted waters of the Ganges and Yamuna during the Mahakumbh, the BJP government of UP is actually playing with the religious sentiments of Hindus. This raises a critical question that puts the BJP’s commitment to Hindutva in question.
