Ifor a'r Afon Ganga ‹ Cyfres 2008

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-According to the Hindu faith...	0:00:07	0:00:09
-..the Ganga - or Ganges - -is the world's holiest river.	0:00:09	0:00:12
-Bathing in the river -purifies your soul.	0:00:14	0:00:18
-Dying on its banks -safeguards your place in heaven.	0:00:20	0:00:24
-But if the river -is spiritually important...	0:00:28	0:00:31
-..it's also crucial -for the daily life of its people.	0:00:31	0:00:35
-The Ganga and its tributaries -provide fresh water...	0:00:35	0:00:39
-..for half a billion Indian people.	0:00:39	0:00:42
-I've come to India to follow -the river and meet its people.	0:00:43	0:00:48
-My journey takes me -from the Himalayas...	0:00:48	0:00:51
-..to the country's holiest city.	0:00:52	0:00:54
-I'll meet people -from all walks of life...	0:00:54	0:00:57
-..who rely on the river -for their livelihood.	0:00:58	0:01:02
-On hearing their stories...	0:01:02	0:01:04
-..there's cause for concern -for the future.	0:01:05	0:01:08
-India is in danger -of destroying the river...	0:01:08	0:01:11
-..that gives meaning to its faith -and life to its land.	0:01:12	0:01:16
-For millions of Indians, life would -be impossible without the Ganga.	0:01:38	0:01:43
-From its source in the Himalayas -to its delta in Bengal...	0:01:51	0:01:55
-..it flows over 1,500 miles -across northern India.	0:01:56	0:01:59
-Along with the rivers -which flow into it...	0:02:00	0:02:02
-..the Ganga sustains -half the country's population.	0:02:02	0:02:05
-For the Hindu faith, there is -a wider appeal for the river.	0:02:06	0:02:10
-The river is the physical form -of the goddess Ganga.	0:02:10	0:02:14
-It is a holy river.	0:02:16	0:02:18
-For the past thousands of years...	0:02:25	0:02:28
-..Ganga has been the basis -of the country's culture and faith.	0:02:28	0:02:33
-The history of the river and -that of the country is inseparable.	0:02:33	0:02:38
-On my journey down the river...	0:02:38	0:02:40
-..I hope to grasp its importance -to the people of India...	0:02:41	0:02:44
-..and the dangers it faces.	0:02:44	0:02:47
-First, I must reach -the river's source.	0:02:51	0:02:54
-I'm heading to a little village -called Gangotri in the Himalayas.	0:02:54	0:02:59
-As you can see, -India is a vast country.	0:03:03	0:03:06
-We're here in Delhi.	0:03:07	0:03:09
-We need to travel north to Gangotri.	0:03:09	0:03:12
-On this map, -it's only a short journey...	0:03:12	0:03:15
-..but in this car, -it will take 19 hours.	0:03:15	0:03:18
-So, let's go!	0:03:18	0:03:20
-There's no way of avoiding -the hustle and bustle of India.	0:03:27	0:03:31
-There are people everywhere.	0:03:35	0:03:37
-The river's natural fertility -feeds these colourful crowds.	0:03:41	0:03:46
-That's why they worship the river.	0:03:52	0:03:54
-According to Hindu scriptures...	0:03:56	0:03:58
-..the Ganga used to flow in heaven.	0:03:58	0:04:01
-It agreed to descend to earth -to help mankind...	0:04:01	0:04:05
-..by purifying the ashes -of the dead and resurrecting them.	0:04:05	0:04:09
-To prevent the planet's destruction -as the Ganga descended to earth...	0:04:10	0:04:15
-..another God, Shiva, would absorb -the river's energy in his hair.	0:04:16	0:04:20
-Today, Gangotri has grown around the -location where this all happened...	0:04:25	0:04:30
-..according to the legend.	0:04:30	0:04:32
-During the winter, -it's impossible to reach Gangotri...	0:04:33	0:04:37
-..since the roads -are covered in snow.	0:04:37	0:04:40
-Once spring arrives, -the snow starts to melt...	0:04:41	0:04:45
-..and pilgrims flock to the area.	0:04:45	0:04:48
-After a two-day journey -from Delhi...	0:04:57	0:05:01
-..I join the masses.	0:05:01	0:05:03
-Reaching Gangotri in a 4x4 vehicle -was dangerous enough.	0:05:07	0:05:11
-It's hard to imagine -how these pilgrims feel...	0:05:13	0:05:17
-..after making the journey -in jam-packed buses.	0:05:17	0:05:20
-Since Gangotri is three times higher -than the summit of Snowdon...	0:05:25	0:05:29
-..it's very cold here at daybreak -before the sun rises overhead.	0:05:30	0:05:35
-The pilgrims don't mind.	0:05:39	0:05:41
-They have only one thing -on their minds.	0:05:42	0:05:44
-They've reached their journey's end.	0:05:45	0:05:47
-Here, according to legend, -Ganga descended to earth.	0:05:52	0:05:56
-That's why pilgrims flock here -in their thousands...	0:05:56	0:06:00
-..to bathe and worship.	0:06:00	0:06:02
-Just as the goddess Ganga arrived -to purify the ashes of the dead...	0:06:04	0:06:09
-..these pilgrims believe the river -will wash away their sins.	0:06:09	0:06:14
-After bathing, -some pay local priests...	0:06:17	0:06:21
-..to perform -thanksgiving ceremonies...	0:06:21	0:06:24
-..in the river.	0:06:24	0:06:26
-For a few rupees, a few pennies...	0:06:27	0:06:31
-..this man offers the goddess Ganga -an oblation on my behalf.	0:06:31	0:06:35
-He blesses my family -and my journey along the river.	0:06:37	0:06:42
-The blessing is -in a foreign language...	0:06:46	0:06:49
-..but sharing this ceremony -is quite an experience.	0:06:49	0:06:53
-As Muhammad Ali once said...	0:06:53	0:06:55
-.."Rivers, ponds, lakes and streams.	0:06:56	0:06:58
-"They have different names -but all contain water."	0:06:58	0:07:02
-The world's religions are the same.	0:07:02	0:07:06
-They all have different names...	0:07:06	0:07:09
-..but they all contain truth.	0:07:09	0:07:13
-Here in Gangotri, since the river -flows fresh from the mountain...	0:07:26	0:07:31
-..people believe the water can -purify even the most sinful soul.	0:07:31	0:07:35
-That's why pilgrims travel -so far to reach here.	0:07:35	0:07:40
-The most dedicated -don't arrive by bus.	0:07:42	0:07:46
-They walk - every step of the way.	0:07:47	0:07:49
-These people are called sadhus.	0:07:51	0:07:55
-Sadhu literally means good man.	0:07:55	0:07:57
-There are 5 million sadhus in India.	0:07:58	0:08:00
-They are pilgrims who have forgone -the material world...	0:08:00	0:08:04
-..to worship the gods.	0:08:04	0:08:06
-They wear orange as a symbol -of their poverty.	0:08:08	0:08:11
-Sadhus survive on charity.	0:08:12	0:08:14
-Some cover themselves in ash to show -the strength of their conviction.	0:08:15	0:08:20
-For sadhus, toiling along -the long road to Gangotri...	0:08:20	0:08:25
-..is a sign of their commitment -to the goddess Ganga.	0:08:25	0:08:29
-However, -for the most committed pilgrims...	0:08:32	0:08:35
-..Gangotri is not -the end of the journey.	0:08:35	0:08:37
-This is the source of the river -according to Hindu scriptures...	0:08:37	0:08:42
-..but these days, the Ganga starts -ten miles in that direction...	0:08:42	0:08:47
-..in the mountains -around the Gamukh glacier.	0:08:47	0:08:49
-The literal meaning of Gamukh -is cow's mouth.	0:08:52	0:08:55
-It describes the cave -where the Ganga starts its journey.	0:08:56	0:09:00
-Here, the river is cream in colour.	0:09:00	0:09:03
-Over time, -the source of the river moves...	0:09:06	0:09:09
-..as the glaciers that feed it -melt away.	0:09:10	0:09:13
-Back in Gangotri, I meet a man -who has witnessed these changes...	0:09:19	0:09:23
-..during his lifetime.	0:09:24	0:09:25
-Swami Sundaranand is 81 years old.	0:09:29	0:09:32
-He first arrived in Gangotri -when he was a young man.	0:09:32	0:09:36
-I arrived in Gangotri in 1948.	0:09:41	0:09:44
-Gangotri is 10,300 feet -above sea level.	0:09:44	0:09:49
-The flowers which grew here then...	0:09:51	0:09:54
-..the deer and the brown and white -bears, have all disappeared.	0:09:54	0:09:58
-Now, an entire town -has been built here.	0:09:59	0:10:01
-For the past 60 years, -he has recorded all these changes...	0:10:06	0:10:10
-..using his camera.	0:10:10	0:10:12
-From left to right, this is -a panorama of eight photographs.	0:10:19	0:10:23
-Behind the summit of Shivling -is the Meru glacier.	0:10:26	0:10:29
-It meets the Gangotri glacier here.	0:10:32	0:10:36
-The Gangotri glacier in Gamukh -has retreated three kilometres...	0:10:37	0:10:43
-..and decreased by one kilometre.	0:10:44	0:10:46
-The Gangotri glacier is melting.	0:10:49	0:10:52
-It retreats 25 metres each year...	0:10:53	0:10:56
-..which explains the confusion -about the source of the Ganga.	0:10:56	0:11:01
-Today, the river -begins its journey in Gamukh.	0:11:04	0:11:07
-4,000 years ago, when the Hindu -scriptures were first written...	0:11:08	0:11:12
-..the glacier stretched for miles -further down the valley.	0:11:12	0:11:17
-That's why people believe that Ganga -descended to earth in Gangotri.	0:11:19	0:11:24
-When the earth was formed, when the -Himalayas and glaciers were born...	0:11:29	0:11:35
-..the Gamukh glacier started here.	0:11:35	0:11:38
-Because of global warming, -deforestation and fire...	0:11:40	0:11:44
-..as a result of modern living...	0:11:44	0:11:46
-..the wildlife has disappeared...	0:11:46	0:11:49
-..and the Gamukh glacier -is retreating further and further.	0:11:49	0:11:53
-Within 50 years...	0:12:00	0:12:02
-..the eternal glacier -will disappear.	0:12:02	0:12:05
-India and the whole world will long -for the smallest drop of water...	0:12:05	0:12:09
-..from the Ganga.	0:12:10	0:12:11
-It's hard to imagine this today...	0:12:13	0:12:16
-..but scientists agree that -Swami Sundaranand speaks the truth.	0:12:16	0:12:20
-Scientists predict that the glaciers -could retreat even faster.	0:12:21	0:12:27
-They could all melt -as early as 2035.	0:12:27	0:12:32
-Then, the source of the Ganga -would disappear.	0:12:32	0:12:37
-My journey, like the Ganga...	0:12:45	0:12:48
-..continues for the time being.	0:12:49	0:12:51
-.	0:12:53	0:12:53
-888	0:12:58	0:12:58
-888 - -888	0:12:58	0:13:00
-From Gangotri, I follow the Ganga...	0:13:04	0:13:07
-..as it plunges down the mountains -towards northern India...	0:13:07	0:13:12
-..and the holy city of Haridwar.	0:13:12	0:13:14
-The river descends -about 13,000 feet...	0:13:18	0:13:21
-..between Gangotri and Haridwar.	0:13:22	0:13:24
-As you can see, -the Ganga is far too ferocious...	0:13:24	0:13:28
-..for me to think -about travelling on it.	0:13:28	0:13:31
-We have to stick to the road.	0:13:31	0:13:33
-From what I've seen, -it's just as dangerous.	0:13:33	0:13:36
-The road is narrow, -and the drop below is frightening.	0:13:43	0:13:47
-In places, the road -has worn away to almost nothing.	0:13:47	0:13:52
-Other vehicles meet us -at almost every corner.	0:13:52	0:13:56
-Bus after bus, packed with pilgrims -on their way to or from Gangotri.	0:13:56	0:14:01
-There's hardly any room -for two horses on this road...	0:14:01	0:14:05
-..let alone two vehicles.	0:14:06	0:14:08
-At least the Government has erected -signs to warn you of the dangers.	0:14:09	0:14:14
-As the sun sets, I relax a little.	0:14:15	0:14:19
-At least I can't see -the sheer drop in the darkness.	0:14:20	0:14:23
-After spending the night in a tent -on the riverbank...	0:14:33	0:14:37
-..I stretch my legs -before returning to the car.	0:14:37	0:14:41
-The riverbank is a hive of activity.	0:14:45	0:14:48
-Men use the river as a quarry -to collect stones for construction.	0:14:49	0:14:53
-A mother and her children -wash clothes in the water.	0:14:57	0:15:01
-In these valleys, -there is little else.	0:15:02	0:15:05
-The river is the only source -of fresh water...	0:15:05	0:15:10
-..for locals and their animals.	0:15:10	0:15:13
-However, there are other benefits -to be found here.	0:15:21	0:15:25
-The river's sand sparkles brightly.	0:15:26	0:15:30
-This is caused by the minerals which -are washed down from the mountains.	0:15:31	0:15:35
-It's carried as nourishment -and deposited on land...	0:15:35	0:15:39
-..as the Ganga winds its way -down to the sea.	0:15:39	0:15:43
-That allows it to feed the millions -along its riverbank.	0:15:43	0:15:47
-No wonder people think about -the Ganga as a divine being...	0:15:49	0:15:54
-..which brings so many blessings.	0:15:54	0:15:57
-Finally, I reach Haridwar.	0:16:02	0:16:05
-It's taken two days to travel -140 miles from Gangotri to Haridwar.	0:16:05	0:16:12
-It's an easier journey the -other way, along the Indian plains.	0:16:14	0:16:19
-Each year, this town -attracts 18 million visitors.	0:16:19	0:16:23
-Since so many people visit -to bathe in the water...	0:16:25	0:16:29
-..these steps, or ghats, -were built...	0:16:29	0:16:31
-..to help pilgrims -in and out of the water.	0:16:32	0:16:35
-This is the Har-Ki-Pauri.	0:16:35	0:16:37
-It is a special ghat.	0:16:38	0:16:40
-This is where -the young, energetic river...	0:16:40	0:16:44
-..leaves the mountains -and comes of age...	0:16:44	0:16:47
-..stretching majestically -along the northern Indian plains.	0:16:47	0:16:52
-This is a holy place.	0:16:52	0:16:55
-However, take care before plunging -into the river here.	0:17:00	0:17:04
-In Haridwar, -the current is so strong...	0:17:08	0:17:11
-..that many people are washed away -and drown every year.	0:17:11	0:17:15
-But since every Hindu is expected -to visit the Ganga...	0:17:20	0:17:24
-..at least once in their life...	0:17:24	0:17:27
-..families come here -to fulfil their duties.	0:17:28	0:17:31
-The town flourishes -thanks to its tourist trade.	0:17:31	0:17:35
-On the banks of the river, -there are numerous priests...	0:17:36	0:17:40
-..who perform ceremonies -for visitors.	0:17:41	0:17:44
-One of the most important -is the mundan.	0:17:44	0:17:47
-During this ceremony, one-year-old -children have their heads shaved.	0:17:50	0:17:54
-According to the Hindu faith, -a baby's first hair...	0:17:57	0:18:01
-..represents the sins -we performed in a previous life.	0:18:01	0:18:06
-To ensure we don't carry our sins...	0:18:06	0:18:10
-..from the past to the present, -the priest shaves the baby...	0:18:10	0:18:15
-..and offers it to the Ganga -for purification.	0:18:15	0:18:18
-Families make a huge effort to -ensure that the mundan ceremony...	0:18:20	0:18:25
-..happens on the riverbank.	0:18:25	0:18:27
-Before leaving Haridwar...	0:18:33	0:18:35
-..I buy a gift as a memento.	0:18:35	0:18:37
-These pots contain water -from the river.	0:18:39	0:18:42
-They are called Ganga jals.	0:18:42	0:18:45
-This is no ordinary mineral water.	0:18:49	0:18:52
-This isn't something to drink.	0:18:52	0:18:55
-This is something to be used -drop by drop.	0:18:55	0:18:58
-Hindus believe that -the smallest drop of Ganga jal...	0:19:02	0:19:06
-..in your bath is both -beneficial for your health...	0:19:06	0:19:09
-..and eliminates all your sins.	0:19:10	0:19:13
-While tourists like me -pay for the pretty packaging...	0:19:17	0:19:21
-..locals are far more sensible.	0:19:21	0:19:24
-They buy plastic bottles -and fill them themselves.	0:19:24	0:19:28
-It is claimed -that a bottle of Ganga jal...	0:19:31	0:19:34
-..stays fresh for years once opened.	0:19:34	0:19:36
-Some claim that mosquitoes -can't live in the river's waters.	0:19:37	0:19:41
-For Hindus, this is proof that the -goddess Ganga is alive and well...	0:19:42	0:19:48
-..in the river itself.	0:19:48	0:19:50
-As night draws in over Haridwar...	0:19:55	0:19:58
-..pilgrims gather for the nightly -prayer service - the Ganga arti.	0:19:58	0:20:03
-It literally means -the worship of the river.	0:20:03	0:20:06
-There are a number of stages -in the ceremony.	0:20:08	0:20:12
-It is a request for a blessing -on one's whole family.	0:20:12	0:20:16
-I was asked to chant -"Om shivaya Ganga devaya namaha"...	0:20:17	0:20:22
-..to make the blessing -more effective.	0:20:22	0:20:25
-It was odd being part of a ceremony -without understanding a single word.	0:20:31	0:20:35
-After all, in our tradition, -the Word is all-important.	0:20:35	0:20:40
-It was a pleasant experience -nonetheless.	0:20:40	0:20:43
-In the middle of such -a mass expression of faith...	0:20:50	0:20:54
-..it was hard not to think about -the pollution of modern life...	0:20:54	0:20:59
-..which threatens this holy river -as it flows.	0:20:59	0:21:03
-The following day, -I follow the river...	0:21:16	0:21:20
-..over the northern Indian plains.	0:21:21	0:21:25
-After the winding roads -of the Himalayas...	0:21:30	0:21:33
-..it's nice to be -on a straight road.	0:21:33	0:21:36
-It's also nice being inside the car.	0:21:36	0:21:39
-I've reached some -of the most fertile land in Asia.	0:21:44	0:21:48
-This is all thanks to the Ganga.	0:21:48	0:21:51
-As the river flows down -from the mountains...	0:21:52	0:21:55
-..the silt that's carried -in the water...	0:21:56	0:21:59
-..is deposited over the fields -and fertilizes the land.	0:21:59	0:22:02
-The natural fertility -of the river...	0:22:14	0:22:17
-..also sustains a different type -of fertility.	0:22:17	0:22:20
-Here, in Uttar Pradesh...	0:22:21	0:22:23
-..India's population growth -is at its most intense.	0:22:23	0:22:27
-In the middle of this bustling -market, it's plain to see.	0:22:27	0:22:31
-If this growth continues, -India, not China...	0:22:32	0:22:35
-..will become the world's most -populated country in 20 years' time.	0:22:35	0:22:39
-This sudden increase -threatens the river.	0:22:40	0:22:43
-India's industry and economy...	0:22:46	0:22:48
-..is growing as quickly -as its population.	0:22:48	0:22:51
-It is poisoning the river...	0:22:52	0:22:53
-..and the people who rely on it.	0:22:54	0:22:56
-.	0:22:57	0:22:57
-888	0:23:02	0:23:02
-888 - -888	0:23:02	0:23:04
-Kanpur is the first large city -on the Ganga.	0:23:07	0:23:11
-It's home to 3 million people -and a flourishing leather industry.	0:23:14	0:23:19
-The city has been built on India's -most fertile agricultural land...	0:23:24	0:23:28
-..giving it a plentiful supply -of animal skin.	0:23:29	0:23:33
-There are over 350 tanneries -in Kanpur...	0:23:35	0:23:38
-..producing leather -worth 200m per annum.	0:23:38	0:23:43
-However, for the people -who live and work here...	0:23:46	0:23:49
-..the poisonous waste of -the factories threatens their lives.	0:23:49	0:23:54
-With poisonous smoke -rising from the chimneys...	0:23:57	0:24:01
-..the number of people with lung -disease is extremely high here.	0:24:02	0:24:07
-The effect on the river -is just as serious.	0:24:11	0:24:14
-Legally, the tanneries must treat -their waste before disposing it...	0:24:22	0:24:27
-..but more than half don't.	0:24:28	0:24:31
-All kinds of pollution -enter the river...	0:24:31	0:24:34
-..from animal hides -to carcinogenic chemicals.	0:24:35	0:24:38
-They flow from the gutters -straight into the river.	0:24:39	0:24:42
-A few kilometres from Kanpur -is the fishing village of Nadar Pur.	0:24:48	0:24:53
-It's an entirely different world.	0:24:54	0:24:56
-It's the cleanest -and tidiest place along the Ganga.	0:24:56	0:25:00
-However, there is a problem here...	0:25:00	0:25:03
-..which I noticed -as I watched the villagers fish.	0:25:03	0:25:07
-Kishan Pal Kashyap has been -a fisherman throughout his life.	0:25:12	0:25:16
-He explained to me -how things had changed.	0:25:17	0:25:20
-We used to watch our fathers -fishing here.	0:25:20	0:25:23
-They had to take their fish home -in buffalo carts.	0:25:24	0:25:28
-They would catch big fish -weighing 20 kilos.	0:25:29	0:25:33
-It was impossible -to carry them sometimes.	0:25:33	0:25:36
-Then, as we grew up, -fish numbers dwindled.	0:25:39	0:25:43
-Some species don't swim here -any more...	0:25:45	0:25:48
-..because of the filthy water -in Kanpur.	0:25:48	0:25:51
-Sometimes, we find piles -of dead fish on the riverbank.	0:25:51	0:25:55
-It stinks here.	0:25:55	0:25:57
-One of the few fish -that can still live in the water...	0:26:04	0:26:08
-..is this one.	0:26:09	0:26:10
-The rohu.	0:26:11	0:26:13
-When these are caught, -their flesh is poisoned.	0:26:13	0:26:16
-Sometimes, we think, -"OK, there's nothing else."	0:26:20	0:26:24
-"We'll eat this."	0:26:24	0:26:26
-But the flesh is disgusting - -it makes our children ill.	0:26:26	0:26:30
-The people of Nadar Pur -know better than most...	0:26:35	0:26:38
-..about the effect of pollution -on the Ganga...	0:26:38	0:26:41
-..but they can't escape from it.	0:26:41	0:26:43
-They rely on the river -to sustain them.	0:26:43	0:26:47
-When we're out fishing...	0:26:49	0:26:51
-..this is the only water -we can drink.	0:26:52	0:26:55
-When you place your hand -in the water, it stinks.	0:26:56	0:26:59
-You can feel the animal fat -floating in it.	0:26:59	0:27:02
-Your hand is filthy -and the water is disgusting.	0:27:03	0:27:06
-It makes you sick. -It's not fit for human consumption.	0:27:06	0:27:10
-When you cup a handful of water, -you can see the animal fat.	0:27:11	0:27:15
-The Ganga is so polluted...	0:27:20	0:27:22
-..it's impossible to make a living -as an angler.	0:27:22	0:27:26
-Kishan has turned to farming...	0:27:27	0:27:30
-..but even the land -has been poisoned by the river...	0:27:30	0:27:34
-..as the crops are irrigated by it.	0:27:34	0:27:37
-We want to use the sand to grow -cucumbers, melons and vegetables.	0:27:41	0:27:45
-When you plant seeds in the soil, -they don't germinate.	0:27:45	0:27:49
-If they do germinate, -the plant grows to a certain size...	0:27:49	0:27:54
-..and then dies.	0:27:54	0:27:56
-That's the way it is. -Life is hell for us.	0:28:00	0:28:03
-The future is bleak -for Kishan and his family...	0:28:09	0:28:12
-..and Kanpur's -leather industry grows.	0:28:13	0:28:15
-The economic growth attracts -thousands of people to the city.	0:28:21	0:28:26
-This only serves -to exacerbate the problem.	0:28:27	0:28:30
-The population of Kanpur -produce their own pollution.	0:28:31	0:28:36
-Tonnes of sewage every day.	0:28:36	0:28:38
-Much of it is poured -straight into the river.	0:28:39	0:28:43
-Here in Kanpur, like many -other areas along the Ganga...	0:28:55	0:28:59
-..bathing is important -to local Hindus.	0:29:00	0:29:02
-Myself - I wouldn't dip -my big toe in this river...	0:29:03	0:29:06
-..because I know that -the city's main sewage pipe...	0:29:06	0:29:10
-..empties its contents -into the river over there.	0:29:10	0:29:13
-Here, in the city's hospital...	0:29:21	0:29:23
-..the effect of Kanpur's pollution -can be clearly seen.	0:29:24	0:29:27
-About 300 people come here daily -for treatment for lung diseases...	0:29:28	0:29:33
-..caused by pollution in the air.	0:29:33	0:29:36
-Even more contract illnesses -carried in the river's waters.	0:29:38	0:29:42
-Women and children suffer the most.	0:29:45	0:29:49
-Dr Kiran Pandey is an obstetrician.	0:29:52	0:29:56
-She sees first-hand the effect -pollution has on the population.	0:29:56	0:30:02
-If the water is polluted -and people drink it...	0:30:05	0:30:08
-..pollution enters the body.	0:30:08	0:30:10
-Parasites live in the water.	0:30:12	0:30:14
-Diarrhoea and viral diseases -come from the water.	0:30:15	0:30:18
-In addition to the diseases -carried in the water...	0:30:23	0:30:27
-..the river is full of chemicals.	0:30:27	0:30:29
-The water people drink is treated...	0:30:32	0:30:35
-..but it contains high levels -of chromium which can cause cancer.	0:30:35	0:30:40
-The untreated water...	0:30:40	0:30:42
-..the water -which irrigates the crops...	0:30:42	0:30:45
-..contains 64 times more arsenic -and 120 times more mercury...	0:30:46	0:30:51
-..than international guidelines -permit.	0:30:51	0:30:54
-These chemicals -not only cause illnesses...	0:30:56	0:30:59
-..but they also destroy -the nourishment in the crops.	0:31:00	0:31:03
-For these women, -polluted water leads to a poor diet.	0:31:04	0:31:07
-About half the patients -have anaemia.	0:31:09	0:31:13
-In a healthy person, the level -of haemoglobin in the blood...	0:31:13	0:31:18
-..is between 11 and 13 milligrams.	0:31:18	0:31:21
-In India, -and this area in particular...	0:31:22	0:31:25
-..where there are -nourishment problems...	0:31:25	0:31:28
-..we often see people with levels -between one and three milligrams.	0:31:28	0:31:33
-This affects a child's growth -in the womb.	0:31:35	0:31:38
-It could lead to women -giving birth prematurely...	0:31:38	0:31:42
-..babies with low birth weight -and babies who die at birth.	0:31:42	0:31:46
-The polluted river is responsible -for many deaths in Kanpur.	0:31:52	0:31:58
-But the people can't afford -to protest too much.	0:32:01	0:32:04
-The wealth of the tanneries -drives the local economy.	0:32:04	0:32:08
-If the river is polluted...	0:32:09	0:32:12
-..well, so be it.	0:32:12	0:32:14
-Further down the river, there -are cities where the economy...	0:32:17	0:32:21
-..relies just as much on pilgrims -as it does on industry.	0:32:22	0:32:25
-Here, the polluted Ganga -is an enormous problem.	0:32:26	0:32:31
-From Kanpur, I follow the Ganga -to the holy town of Allahabad.	0:32:33	0:32:38
-This is where the Yamuna -joins the Ganga...	0:32:40	0:32:44
-..and the invisible Saraswati.	0:32:44	0:32:47
-According to the Hindu scriptures...	0:32:47	0:32:51
-..the gods and the devil -fought here...	0:32:51	0:32:54
-..releasing some -eternal nourishment in Allahabad.	0:32:54	0:32:59
-It's busy here today...	0:33:00	0:33:02
-..but it's even busier when -the festival of Kumbh Mela is held.	0:33:02	0:33:06
-It attracts millions of people -who bathe in the river.	0:33:07	0:33:10
-The Kumbh Mela of 2007 -attracted 70 million people.	0:33:13	0:33:17
-It was possibly -the world's largest gathering.	0:33:18	0:33:22
-The most important event -of the festival is the royal bath.	0:33:25	0:33:29
-Pilgrims who bathe -during this ceremony...	0:33:29	0:33:33
-..grant the goddess Ganga -an important favour.	0:33:33	0:33:36
-When she agreed to descend to earth -to purify mankind...	0:33:36	0:33:41
-..she asked who would purify her?	0:33:41	0:33:44
-It was decided that the sadhus -would undertake the work.	0:33:45	0:33:49
-This is the royal bath.	0:33:49	0:33:51
-As they bathe, -sadhus absorb the river's sins...	0:33:53	0:33:57
-..into themselves.	0:33:57	0:33:59
-During the 2007 Kumbh Mela, -things didn't go to plan.	0:34:03	0:34:07
-Because of the pollution and rubbish -floating in the Ganga...	0:34:09	0:34:13
-..pilgrims were so fed up, -they refused to bathe...	0:34:14	0:34:18
-..until the authorities -cleaned the waters.	0:34:18	0:34:22
-Some threatened to kill themselves.	0:34:23	0:34:25
-In panic, the authorities -opened a dam further up the river...	0:34:27	0:34:31
-..to increase the flow -and wash away some of the pollution.	0:34:31	0:34:35
-The sadhus backed down -and the festival continued.	0:34:36	0:34:39
-Their protest was an important -milestone in the river's history.	0:34:44	0:34:48
-Even the most religious pilgrims -were ready to compromise...	0:34:48	0:34:53
-..their faith -in the river's purity...	0:34:53	0:34:56
-..because of the true condition -of the water.	0:34:56	0:34:59
-As I approach -the end of my journey...	0:35:04	0:35:06
-..this is the paradox -that sticks in my mind.	0:35:06	0:35:09
-Why do people who worship the river -so readily pollute it?	0:35:10	0:35:14
-.	0:35:16	0:35:16
-888	0:35:20	0:35:20
-888 - -888	0:35:20	0:35:22
-The holy city of Varanasi is -journey's end for me and the Ganga.	0:35:28	0:35:33
-And for countless others.	0:35:34	0:35:36
-It's 80 miles from Allahabad -to Varanasi.	0:35:42	0:35:44
-It's the last resting place -for many Hindus.	0:35:45	0:35:48
-It has its own university -and silk industry...	0:35:53	0:35:57
-..but these aren't -the city's main attractions.	0:35:57	0:36:00
-I knew before arriving...	0:36:01	0:36:03
-..that Varanasi was one -of the Ganga's holiest cities.	0:36:04	0:36:07
-There are over a hundred ghats -along the riverbank for pilgrims...	0:36:08	0:36:12
-..but I didn't expect -the city to be so beautiful.	0:36:12	0:36:15
-Apparently, the Ganga -cherished this city so much...	0:36:18	0:36:22
-..it turned back on itself -so that it could stay here.	0:36:22	0:36:26
-Staying here is the aim -of many since then.	0:36:28	0:36:32
-They say that if you die -on the banks of the Ganga...	0:36:34	0:36:37
-..in Varanasi, your soul -rises straight to heaven.	0:36:37	0:36:41
-Because of this, -many old and sick people...	0:36:41	0:36:45
-..flock here to live out -their final days.	0:36:45	0:36:48
-This is true of these women.	0:36:51	0:36:53
-While they stay here, -for months or years on end...	0:36:54	0:36:58
-..they are looked after -by this man - Surendra Peasad.	0:36:59	0:37:03
-The old people here believe -that if they distance themselves...	0:37:07	0:37:11
-..from their family, -they move closer to God.	0:37:11	0:37:14
-If you sacrifice one thing, -you receive another.	0:37:14	0:37:19
-People come here -to move closer to God.	0:37:19	0:37:22
-Surendra cares for them -while they are alive...	0:37:28	0:37:31
-..and also after they die.	0:37:32	0:37:34
-When these people die, Surendra -grants them their final wish...	0:37:35	0:37:40
-..by organizing their cremation -on the riverbank.	0:37:40	0:37:44
-This is the Manikarnika ghat, -where most bodies are cremated.	0:37:49	0:37:54
-Before even reaching the ghats, -I was sweating pints...	0:37:56	0:38:00
-..as the midday temperature -reached 45 degrees Celsius.	0:38:00	0:38:04
-How difficult is life for the men -who build these bonfires...	0:38:05	0:38:10
-..day and night?	0:38:10	0:38:12
-These men belong -to the untouchable caste.	0:38:16	0:38:22
-In India...	0:38:24	0:38:25
-..the untouchables have -the lowest status of all castes...	0:38:26	0:38:29
-..but here, in Manikarnika...	0:38:30	0:38:31
-..they are respected by everyone.	0:38:32	0:38:34
-Whether rich or poor, -from a high or low caste...	0:38:39	0:38:43
-..the dead rely on these workers -to help their souls reach heaven.	0:38:43	0:38:48
-As I walk along -the back streets to the ghats...	0:38:52	0:38:55
-..Surendra explains -how the funeral system works.	0:38:55	0:38:59
-For one payment of 1,000 rupees...	0:39:04	0:39:06
-..around 12...	0:39:06	0:39:08
-..you can buy as much firewood, -incense and manpower...	0:39:08	0:39:12
-..as you require.	0:39:12	0:39:14
-Surendra invited me to watch -the ceremony from the sidelines.	0:39:24	0:39:29
-There was something odd -in watching a stranger's funeral.	0:39:30	0:39:34
-Then again, -amidst the hustle and bustle...	0:39:34	0:39:37
-..it was like attending -a public funeral.	0:39:37	0:39:40
-After placing the corpses -on the bonfire...	0:39:45	0:39:48
-..the fire is lit -from a nearby eternal flame...	0:39:48	0:39:52
-..which, according to legend, -has been burning for an eternity.	0:39:52	0:39:57
-In the meantime, the chief -mourner, usually the eldest son...	0:39:59	0:40:05
-..shaves his head -as a symbol of his loss.	0:40:05	0:40:08
-Then, he lights the holy straw -from the eternal flame...	0:40:10	0:40:15
-..and ignites the bonfire.	0:40:16	0:40:18
-In the heat of the fire, -the departed's soul...	0:40:25	0:40:29
-..rises to heaven.	0:40:29	0:40:31
-Here, the ceremony of death -is surrounded by everyday life.	0:40:41	0:40:46
-It's not pushed to the sidelines -as is the case in our culture.	0:40:47	0:40:51
-Earlier, I saw a grandfather -barking swimming instructions...	0:40:51	0:40:57
-..to his grandson...	0:40:57	0:40:59
-..and corpses being burned -only a few yards away.	0:41:00	0:41:04
-I can't imagine that happening -in Wales.	0:41:04	0:41:07
-That's what I saw on the banks -of this remarkable river.	0:41:07	0:41:11
-After the cremation, the ashes -are scattered on the river.	0:41:18	0:41:24
-Mourners leave without looking back.	0:41:24	0:41:27
-In the meantime, workers -rummage through the charcoal...	0:41:27	0:41:31
-..for gold teeth and other gems.	0:41:32	0:41:34
-Ashes aren't the only human remains -floating in the river.	0:41:40	0:41:44
-Pregnant women and young babies -are believed to be without sin.	0:41:47	0:41:52
-Since they have no need -for purification by fire...	0:41:52	0:41:56
-..their corpses are released -straight into the river.	0:41:56	0:42:00
-Yet, every morning, -Hindus gather to bathe in the river.	0:42:09	0:42:14
-They are drawn by their faith -in the water's purity.	0:42:15	0:42:19
-One of them -is Professor Bhadra Mishra.	0:42:23	0:42:27
-When he was 14, in accordance -with family tradition...	0:42:28	0:42:33
-..he became a Hindu priest.	0:42:33	0:42:35
-Professor Mishra -is also an hydraulic engineer.	0:42:35	0:42:40
-The first question I asked him...	0:42:42	0:42:44
-..was how did he reconcile -his faith in the river's purity...	0:42:45	0:42:49
-..with his scientific knowledge?	0:42:49	0:42:52
-It's like this - -the people who worship the Ganga...	0:42:52	0:42:55
-..in the same way that fish -cannot survive without water...	0:42:56	0:43:00
-..they cannot live -without the river.	0:43:00	0:43:03
-I won't break with that tradition...	0:43:03	0:43:06
-..but I realize -that the river is polluted.	0:43:06	0:43:09
-It's my duty to stop the pollution.	0:43:09	0:43:13
-According to Professor Mishra...	0:43:17	0:43:19
-..the main problem lies -with the authorities' attitude.	0:43:19	0:43:24
-This is the greatest problem.	0:43:25	0:43:27
-95% of the pollution happens because -in many parts of the river...	0:43:27	0:43:33
-..sewage and industrial chemicals -are released into the water.	0:43:33	0:43:37
-Over 1m litres of sewage is released -into the river every second.	0:43:41	0:43:47
-Shocked by the apathy -of the authorities...	0:43:48	0:43:51
-..Professor Mishra has opened -his own research laboratory...	0:43:52	0:43:56
-..next door to his temple.	0:43:56	0:43:58
-Here, they test water samples -for fecal coliform...	0:43:58	0:44:02
-..bacteria which lives in sewage.	0:44:02	0:44:05
-The bacteria can cause -all sorts of illnesses...	0:44:07	0:44:11
-..such as typhoid and hepatitis.	0:44:11	0:44:13
-Tests shows that the levels -of fecal coliform in Varanasi...	0:44:16	0:44:20
-..are 160 times higher than -international guidelines permit.	0:44:20	0:44:27
-The root of the problem -is poor town planning.	0:44:33	0:44:36
-In Varanasi, the city's -electricity supply often fails.	0:44:39	0:44:43
-Without it, -the sewage treatment works closes.	0:44:43	0:44:46
-The sewage is then poured -straight into the river.	0:44:47	0:44:50
-This is in addition to the corpses -and the rubbish evident all around.	0:44:54	0:45:00
-The problem is so serious, ordinary -people can't find a solution...	0:45:03	0:45:08
-..but because of their love for -the river, they do what they can.	0:45:08	0:45:13
-The paradox of the situation -strikes me once again.	0:45:24	0:45:28
-According to the scriptures, -the river in Varanasi...	0:45:29	0:45:34
-..can purify souls.	0:45:34	0:45:36
-Scientific research -and this disgusting sight...	0:45:36	0:45:40
-..prove that the water -isn't pure at all.	0:45:40	0:45:43
-Does the Hindu faith -shield followers...	0:45:48	0:45:52
-..from the dangers they face?	0:45:52	0:45:55
-According to Dr Mishra, -it's not as simple as that.	0:45:58	0:46:01
-Today, if I tell the people -that the Ganga is polluted...	0:46:03	0:46:08
-..within seconds, they will reply, -"Don't say such a thing.	0:46:08	0:46:14
-"You're insulting -the goddess Ganga."	0:46:14	0:46:17
-If I show them where -the sewage flows into the river...	0:46:17	0:46:21
-..and say, "Look at this"...	0:46:21	0:46:23
-..they reply, "This is terrible.	0:46:23	0:46:27
-"Sewage shouldn't be allowed -to enter the Ganga."	0:46:27	0:46:31
-If we can harness the respect -and love for this river...	0:46:31	0:46:35
-..it could be a power -that can help us in so many ways.	0:46:36	0:46:39
-If love can save this river, -there's still hope.	0:46:46	0:46:49
-No other river -is loved as much as the Ganga.	0:46:51	0:46:55
-Can 4,000 years of faith -in the purity of the water...	0:46:59	0:47:03
-..overcome the apathy -of the modern age?	0:47:03	0:47:06
-Pollution is just one of the -problems that need to be solved.	0:47:10	0:47:15
-If global warming continues...	0:47:16	0:47:18
-..the very future of the Ganga -will be under threat.	0:47:19	0:47:22
-As the river flows from Varanasi -towards its delta in Bangladesh...	0:47:25	0:47:30
-..the effects of global warming -can be seen today...	0:47:30	0:47:34
-..in the floods experienced -in these areas.	0:47:34	0:47:38
-In years to come, drought and not -floods will be the main problem.	0:47:40	0:47:44
-Back in Gangotri -where I started my journey...	0:47:44	0:47:48
-..the Himalayan glaciers -are retreating.	0:47:48	0:47:52
-Experts are adamant that -if the glaciers continue to melt...	0:47:52	0:47:57
-..the source of the Ganga -will disappear within 25 years.	0:47:57	0:48:02
-It's a catastrophe which was -predicted in the Hindu scriptures.	0:48:03	0:48:08
-According to one tradition...	0:48:09	0:48:11
-..a time will come when the Ganga -cannot wash away human sins.	0:48:11	0:48:15
-Then, it will disappear -underground...	0:48:18	0:48:21
-..to safeguard its purity -until the next age.	0:48:21	0:48:24
-That belief could well be realized -in today's India.	0:48:24	0:48:30
-S4C subtitles by Simian 04	0:49:09	0:49:12
-.	0:49:12	0:49:12

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