These devout Hindus are excited to bathe in holy waters as part of the Chhath puja festival – despite the river in which they swim being incredibly polluted.

During the four-day long festival, worshippers in northern India and Nepal offer prayers to the Sun God and take dips in the Yamuna river, the longest tributary of the Ganges.

The river runs through Dehli for 22km (13 miles), attracting thousands of people to the riverbanks.

But the waters are incredibly polluted.

As seen in footage from October 2017, toxic white foam sits atop the river, filled with chemicals.

Despite looking like snow or a pleasant bubble bath, the foam actually contains black scum and carries a strong sulphur smell.

Despite the clear health issues, worshippers and pilgrims still bathe in the river at the festival, held just before the winter sets in.

Video by India Photo Agency.

By
Deepali Ravi Mishra

'Chhath puja' is a four-day long prominent Hindu festival which is celebrated with fervour and joy in Nepal and some northern states of India just as winter sets in.

In a series of rituals, people offer prayers to the Sun God and take dips in holy waters. Delhi, the Indian capital also witnesses massive participation along the banks of river Yamuna.

The shocking reality is that the lifeline of the city is polluted beyond imagination. The river Yamuna originates from the Yamunotri glacier in the north and is the longest and largest tributary of the Ganges. Its 22 km long patch in Delhi has got heavily contaminated due to untreated effluents and sewer waste being recklessly discharged into it daily.

The extent of contamination can be seen in the form of soap suds that are spread across its surface which look like snow from far away and are full of black scum.

But, unperturbed by the harmful reality, devotees can be seen making their way through the foamy waters to take a dip and offer their prayers.
During the four days of the Chhath festival, the river banks remain heavily crowded with people who come with their families and stay there from before sunrise till sunset to perform the age-old rituals. People come with their children to receive blessings, thank the Sun God and request the granting of certain wishes.

Such is the power of religion and faith.