The Ganges is
worshipped
by Hindus as a
goddess with
the power to
cleanse souls—
and itself. That
complicates
efforts to clean
up the river.
Celebrants transport
a likeness of the god-
dess Durga through
the streets of Howrah,
near Kolkata, during
the Durga Puja festi-
val. It ends with the
immersion of the idols
in the local river—the
Hooghly in this case.
Hindu rituals often
involve offerings to the
Ganges or its branches.
Plastic is banned now
in many temples.