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Sometimes said to have originated in the hair of the Hindu god Shiva, the Ganges River is sacred in the Hindu religion. Often worshipped as a deity, the river is known variously as Mother Ganges, The Pure, Destroyer of Sin, and Light amid the Darkness of Ignorance.

In the old district of Varanasi, the banks of the Ganges are lined by stone steps and platforms known as ghats. These ghats-- an iconic Indian image-- host religious rituals at night and early in the morning, and even to immerse oneself in the waters is seen by many as physically and spiritually purifying. This recording offers an audio snapshot of the crowd that gathers at the ghats to splash around during the day.

Sadly, the river is so polluted with sewage, pesticides and industrial waste that the water is in fact a disease vector. While many continue to risk ill health by bathing in and drinking the waters, many Indians are struggling to return the love Mother Ganges has shown them and cleanse her of pollution. The Sankat Mochan Foundation is one such group. More info: sankatmochanfoundationonline.org

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from Just Before Diwali: Field Recordings From North India, released January 21, 2021

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Mike Hallenbeck Minneapolis, Minnesota

Mike Hallenbeck is a composer and sound designer active in film, animation, branding, and multimedia.

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