The Ganges is a famous river in India, it is the sacred river of Hinduism and one of the symbols of Indian culture. However, the water quality of the Ganges is very poor and it is considered one of the dirtiest rivers in the world.
Indians consider catfish living in the Ganges to be inedible because they represent extreme pollution of the river's water.
So, how dirty is the Ganges? Would Indians rather eat scavengers than touch catfish in the Ganges?
Current status of water quality in the Ganges
The Ganges is the longest river in India and the core of Hindu culture. Since ancient times, Indians have regarded the Ganges as a sacred and cleansing mother river. However, with the increase of India's population and economic development, the water pollution problem of the Ganges River has also become increasingly serious.
At present, the Ganges River is considered one of the most serious cases of water pollution in the world. According to survey data from India's environmental protection department, the Ganges is in a state of ultra-pollution for two-thirds of the year.
The water quality of the Ganges River has been severely affected by India's population increase and industrialization. India is not highly industrialized, but India is one of the most polluted countries in the world.
The main reason is that the Indian government's environmental protection measures are not strict enough, and many enterprises discharge wastewater and waste gas in violation of regulations, resulting in serious pollution problems.
In addition, India's urbanization is also one of the important causes of the problem of water pollution in the Ganges. In many cities, the sewerage system is inadequate, resulting in a large amount of domestic and industrial wastewater being discharged directly into the Ganges.
Ganges catfish in the Ganges
The Ganges catfish, also known as the Indian catfish, is one of the most common species in the Ganges basin of India. They live in the deep waters of the Ganges and prefer to be nocturnal, usually feeding on other small fish.
The Ganges catfish is huge, weighing up to 200 kilograms and up to 4 meters in length, making it one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. Since the Ganges catfish live in the polluted waters of the Ganges, they have a strong ability to adapt to pollution and can survive and thrive in polluted waters.
In Indian culture, the Ganges is a very sacred river. Hindus believe that bathing in the Ganges washes away sins and liberates the cycle of life and death. Every year in spring and autumn, Hindus go to the banks of the Ganges for bathing rituals, which are known as "fragrant river baths".
The Ganges catfish also occupies a very important place in Indian culture. According to Hindu teachings, the Ganges catfish is considered the patron deity of the Ganges and is considered a sacred creature.
In the Hindu heart, the Ganges catfish represents life, light and hope. In addition, in some traditional Indian ceremonies, the Ganges catfish also plays an important role.
Why don't Indians eat Ganges catfish?
Although the Ganges catfish is considered sacred in Hindu teachings, this is not the only reason why Indians do not eat the Ganga catfish. The body of the Ganges catfish contains a lot of mercury because the Ganges is often polluted by industrial and domestic wastewater.
Pollution of the water quality of the Ganges River has become a serious problem in India, in this case, Ganga catfish eat a lot of wastewater and pollutants, so that their bodies contain a lot of heavy metals.
Long-term consumption of this fish with high heavy metal content has potential harm to human health.
Also, according to Indian customs, some special animals are considered mascots and cannot be eaten.
Apart from the Ganges catfish, Indians do not eat some other animals, such as cows and monkeys. This practice can be traced back to some traditional concepts and beliefs in Hindu teachings and is widely followed.
At last
The Ganges catfish plays a very important role in Indian culture and is regarded as the patron saint of the Ganges. Although its body contains a lot of mercury, it is more because of the beliefs and customs of the Indians that prevent them from eating Ganges catfish.
People need to realize that water pollution poses a great threat to the ecological environment and human health, and we should take effective measures to protect the water and soil and let the Ganges River return to clarity.
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