Lamp festival lights up the Ganges
Devotees light lamps in the Ganges and vow to clean up India's sacred river.
Script:
As night falls -- and mantras resonate in the background,
hundreds of Hindus flock to the banks of the River Ganges.
The occasion? Deep Daan Mahotsav or the festival of lamp
offerings.
Revered by devotees, the river is lit by small lamps.
This year made of flour, they are designed to eventually
dissolve in the water, leaving no trace.
Th goal here, says the president of the Clean Ganges Water
Committee, is to keep India's sacred river clean.
SOUNDBITE (Hindi): RAJINDER SETHI, PRESIDENT CLEAN GANGES WATER
COMMITTEE, SAYING:
"We are making the people aware of the need to keep the Ganges
clean and pollution free. We are asking everyone to help keep the
river clean because of increased pollution in the Ganges."
With song and dance a celebration designed to dazzle - devotees
make an Om - a sacred Hindu symbol- and take an oath not to pollute
the river.
If they keep to their word, chances are India's Ganges will be a
cleaner place in time for next year's celebration.
Catherine Macdonald, Reuters