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Kelly D. Alley, Professor of Anthropology, Auburn University

Culture, Purity and Pollution in the Ganges River Basin World Water Forum Istanbul, March 20, 2009. Kelly D. Alley, Professor of Anthropology, Auburn University. Purity and Impurity. pure-impure: pavitra/apavitra, suddha/asudhha

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Kelly D. Alley, Professor of Anthropology, Auburn University

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  1. Culture, Purity and Pollution in the Ganges River Basin World Water ForumIstanbul, March 20, 2009 Kelly D. Alley, Professor of Anthropology, Auburn University

  2. Purity and Impurity • pure-impure: pavitra/apavitra, suddha/asudhha • Pure things: Ganga, saints, gold, Brahmans, ritual implements • impure things: bodily substances, dead bodies, menstrual blood, birth, death, leather, hair

  3. Clean and unclean • clean-unclean: saaf/ganda, svaccha/asvaccha • clean things: bathed bodies, swept ghats, washed clothes • unclean things: unbathed bodies, unswept ghats, unwashed clothes, pan spit, excrement, wastewater drains, and in some cases, corpses floating in the river

  4. Gandagi • pan spit, excrement • dirty wastewater drains and solid waste • soap from bathing and washing • bad business • Moral degeneracy in the Kali Yuga

  5. International Conference on Rivers, Kumbha Mela 2001

  6. Radio project during Kartik Purnima

  7. Can religious groups and institutions help? • Create public awareness • Mobilize sentiment toward specific goals • Put pressure on agencies controlling water and wastewater management • Maintain a public appreciation for and worship of rivers • Connect the study of ecology, hydrology and water resources to fundamental values, beliefs and worldviews

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