Water and Faith

Posted on by Parul Thakur

W.A.T.E.R is not just water for a traditional Hinduism following Indian. It is another name for faith. Every other ritual or ceremony has this important element in some form. We even worship our rivers like Ganga and “Sangam“, a point where three scared rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati meet, holds a lot of religious value and the water at this point is believed to have healing powers. We have “Kumbh Mela” where people gather to bath in the river and it is believed that one’s sins are washed away by bathing on those specific days when nectar falls from the sky and purifies the water of the river.

Our festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Durga Pooja, Chhath all involve water. In the first two, idols are immersed in water and during Chhath women stand in water to worship the rising Sun for the lives of their sons. During Karvachauth, the all day long fast is broken with a sip of water. Washing hands and feet is common before visiting a temple and even the prasadam consists of water with basil leaves in it. Basil plants in a lot of Hindu homes is watered first thing every morning after a bath as a form of worship. As a part of our hospitality and our belief of “Athiti Devo Bhava”(Guest is equivalent to God), we never let anybody leave our home without offering a glass of water and we also do not say NO when even an enemy asks for water.

Parents get toddlers tonsured and offer the hair to a river’s water. When someone dies, the ashes remaining after the funeral are scattered into water. People also visit places like Gaya and Kashi for the salvation of the souls of their ancestors. This is also a ritual that relates to water.

Faith and water sounds synonymous. Isn’t it? I believe in God but I have different beliefs and those are for some other post. This post is all about how much water means to people who believe in its power. I know water quenches thirst and no one can live without water. It is that important for me.

Faith or fear, the choice is yours!

A picture from Gaya - for the salvation ceremony. Pic Credits : MS for sharing this personal pic for this post. Thank you M!
A picture from Gaya – duirng a Salvation ceremony.
Pic Credits : MS for sharing her personal pic for this post. Thank you M!

This post is a response to the Day 3 of Daily Post’s Photography 101 and today’s theme is Water.

I am participating in National Blog Posting Month – NaBloPoMo, and this is Post #5, a pledge to write daily during November to hone my skills, challenge myself, and taking this blog to the next level. Wish me luck and share ideas that you would want to read!

Also linking this post to IndiSpire Edition #37 – #FaithVsFear. 

26 thoughts on “Water and Faith”

  4. Its depth, the tranquility it brings, the scenic beauty, and lots to win over hearts and of course its importance 🙂 Water is essential. However, unfortunately, most of the rituals/faith in some or the other way harm/pollute water. Sigh!

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  5. I have seen many documentaries on the Ganges in India on Discovery or NGC . Their life is so link with the river and their faith.and their livelihood . photo full of Indian culture humanity

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    1. Thanks Suman! There are links on my blog post and I have up two challenges –
      1. Daily Post’s Photography 101 – posting a photo every day on the topic announced and

      2. NaBloPoMo – BlogHer’s initiative in which a blogger commits to write everyday in November.

      Hope this helps!

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