The Water for Life Decade was started by the UN in 2005 in an effort to raise awareness of the importance of taking better care of our water resources. After that, the idea put forth by well-known river advocate Mark Angelo on a global scale led to the creation of World Rivers Day. The proposal for a World Rivers Day event was accepted by UN agencies because they believed it would align well with the objectives of the Water for Life Decade. The first-ever WRD event was put together by a global community of river enthusiasts. Rivers Day was observed in numerous nations after the inaugural celebration in 2005 proved to be a huge success. The occasion has expanded ever since. It is annually celebrated on the fourth Sunday of every September.
Rivers are vital ecosystems that sustain a wide variety of wildlife and supply vital resources to human communities, making them the lifeblood of our planet. They provide nutrients for agriculture, sculpt the landscape, and act as thoroughfares for trade and transportation. For many societies, rivers are significant not only in terms of ecology and economy but also in terms of culture and spirituality. They are frequently seen as representations of rebirth, vitality, and kinship. Nonetheless, pollution, climate change, and habitat destruction are just a few of the many threats that rivers face. Everybody is reminded of the importance of preserving and safeguarding these priceless waterways on World Rivers Day. We can guarantee that rivers flow and continue to enrich our planet for future generations by spreading awareness and encouraging sustainable practices.
India is home to some of the most significant rivers in the World, which have played a crucial role in shaping its culture, economy, and environment. The major rivers, including the Ganges, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, and Indus, are not only vital sources of water but also hold immense spiritual and cultural importance. Many rivers in India are revered as sacred. The Ganges, for instance, is considered the holiest river in Hinduism, with millions of pilgrims traveling to its banks for rituals and ceremonies. Festivals like Kumbh Mela celebrate the confluence of rivers and draw millions, emphasizing the deep spiritual connection people have with these waterways.
Despite their significance, India’s rivers face numerous challenges, including pollution, over-extraction of water, and climate change. Urbanization and industrial discharge have severely impacted water quality, while the construction of dams and barrages disrupt natural flow patterns. In response to these challenges, various government and community initiatives focus on river conservation. The "Namami Gange" project aims to rejuvenate the Ganges through pollution abatement, riverfront development, and biodiversity conservation.
India's rivers have always been crucial to the survival of the numerous civilizations that the nation has hosted over the ages. Major waterways like the Ganges and its tributaries have been sustaining life in their lands since the beginning of time, whether it be through irrigating farmlands, towns, and large cities or by providing drinking water for millions of people. But these rivers represent more to Hindus than just essential parts of the country's economic machinery. They are the lifelines of India's vital spiritual culture.
Holy texts such as the Srimad Bhagavatam state that the Ganges originate at Lord Vishnu's feet. As a result, seeking refuge in its waters is equated with seeking refuge in the Lord's holy feet. Millions of people visit its banks annually as a result. For some Hindus, the main purpose of taking a dip in a river is to become free of sin and achieve emancipation. Some people jump as a sign of rebirth, cleansing the mind and intellect to make one's words, deeds, and thoughts more moral.
The Yamuna and other great rivers, such as the Ganga, are revered as deities that can grant both material and spiritual blessings because they are regarded as being so sacred. So, with World River’s Day for increasing awareness, one may think India, the land in which the predominating faith teaches all of creation is sacred, would be a shining example of how human beings should live sustainably. Instead, however, it might have anyone who has ever been to the country wondering: if India’s rivers are so revered, why are they so polluted?
India's water quality is deteriorating due to various factors, but industrialization is always the main culprit. Consider the Yamuna, for instance. The biggest Ganges tributary is pure at the source, but by the time it passes through the eastern suburbs of New Delhi, the capital of India, it has become the dirtiest river in the nation.
Delhi is responsible for 80% of the Yamuna's pollution, despite the fact that just 2% of the river passes through the city. The evidence is overwhelming and startling at the same time. What can be done? How can the waters be cleaned up? Many Hindus see it as a lost cause. Others say because the rivers are divine, they are metaphysical, and therefore, beyond the touch of material contamination anyways.
Krishna tells Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita, "Know that which pervades the entire body is indestructible." The imperishable soul cannot be destroyed by anyone. Therefore, it makes sense to conclude that a river's divinity is beyond material impurities if spirit cannot be contaminated by the physical. However, Hindu texts also teach that the body is a temple and should be treated as such because the soul resides within it. Although the spirit is eternal, a specific soul can only express itself in this world through a physical vehicle. A malfunctioning lightbulb prevents the electricity it conducts from adequately lighting a space. Similarly, if India’s holy waters are befouled, it is much more difficult for the public to perceive them in their full spiritual glory.
Thankfully, a number of Hindu organizations have risen to the occasion and are taking the physical plight of the world seriously. One of them is The Bhumi Project, an international Hindu initiative led by the Oxford Center for Hindu Studies that addresses the planet's environmental issues.
India's rivers have been restored in part by Swami Chidananda Saraswati, the president and spiritual head of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, one of the biggest interfaith organizations in the country. He established Ganga Action Parivar in 2010 with the goal of preserving and safeguarding the Ganga and its tributaries. Additionally, the Clean Ganga Program was introduced by the Indian government in 2015 in an effort to combat Ganga pollution with assistance from the private sector. The program, supported by the World Bank Group, cleaned up the river’s contaminated areas and set up a series of wastewater treatment plants. It was the largest river decontamination initiative in Indian history.
Goa, known for its stunning beaches and vibrant culture, is also home to several rivers that play a significant role in its ecology and economy. Throughout the history of Goa, one sees that the rivers, that is the Sal, Mandovi, the Kushawati and Zuari have played an important role in its economy. The Mandovi is the largest river in Goa, flowing through the capital, Panjim, and is vital for transportation and fishing.
The Government of Karnataka planned to build across two major tributaries, Kalasa and Banduri, to divert drinking waters to the Malaprabha River and supply Dharwad, Belgaum, and Gadag districts with water for irrigation. This plan to divert Mahadayi's waters to supply approximately thirty water-scarce villages in Karnataka was first proposed in 1970.
The timeline of Goa's water problems is traced by environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar, who highlights the state's lengthy history of environmental mismanagement. Since Goa's independence, there has been ongoing damage to its watersheds. The government initially supported timber logging, which has an impact on the river basin, he said.
It is ironic that some of the same mining companies, having depleted Goan mines, are now focusing on the catchment areas of another major Goan river, the Tiracol, which originates in the Sawantwadi-Dodamarg wildlife corridor of Maharashtra. This is despite the Bombay High Court's order in Awaaz Foundation's petition to declare Sawantwadi-Dodamarg as eco-sensitive, where mining is prohibited. Extensive mining in Goa has also destroyed the state's groundwater table.
Even though the world economy was thriving prior to COVID-19, it is evident that Mother Earth was in dying. India's rivers and the rest of the planet's natural resources are rapidly approaching a point of no return if humans do not change to a more sustainable way of living. Ultimately, while the ethereal attributes of hallowed waterways might elude material gain, what will happen to the promised blessings if the water becomes poisonous to bathe in? Rivers are vital to India's identity, economy, and ecology. Protecting these lifelines requires collective effort and awareness. By celebrating and preserving our rivers, we honor not only our heritage but also ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.