Hinduism

» Harsh Nevatia - Need to shut down ecologically sensitive sites

The River Saraswati was lost to us ages ago because of natural changes in the environment. However, we are today in danger of losing what we hold sacred because we cannot adequately care for them.

The first is the Jyotirling of Amarnath. It was reported that when the temple opened in 2006, the pilgrims discovered a man-made ice Shivling instead of the natural one. The reason given was that the natural Shivling had not formed due to warmer temperatures. Whereas global warming was made the culprit, it is more likely that the ever-increasing numbers of pilgrims resulting in increased human activity are responsible.

The second issue is akin to the Saraswati and will have terrible ecological consequences. The glacier at Gangotri is receding and becoming smaller at an ever-increasing rate. If this continues unabated then the Ganga may cease to be a perennial river. Again the blame has been put on global warming, but again there has been significant contribution from increasing human activity at Gangotri.

Global warming is an issue being taken up at several forums and levels. We must definitely support that initiative, but we need to do something more. Even though we all believe in the omnipresence of God, we all hold certain sites as holy and wish to visit them during our lifetimes. Some sites like Amarnath and Gangotri are ecologically sensitive and are unable to naturally repair the damage that is an inevitable result of the influx of pilgrims. We need to close down such sites for a scientifically determined period so that nature can heal herself. I realize that this will cause anguish to pilgrims and also disturb the local economy but I believe that in our long-term interest we must pay this price.

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