The dead have been buried at the northern portion of Prayagraj’s Phaphamau Ghat, which has been turned into a graveyard, according to yellow and saffron-colored garments on temporary poles. Despite the fact that it is not a traditional Hindu religious practise, many people do it because it is “convenient,” and some even call it a custom.
Rumours of dead floating in the Ganga gained this place a bad name during a severe time of COVID-19’s Delta variation last year. According to some segments of the media, particularly international media, people who died of COVID-19 were buried or “dumped” in Ganga. There were also certain restrictions in place. However, now that the COVID-19 situation has stabilised, the practise of concealing the bodies continues to expose the lies of these claims.
People are still travelling to Ganga in pursuit of “salvation” for their loved ones, and bodies are being buried. Some say it’s due to “budget constraints,” while others believe it’s a tradition. Despite the restriction, the deceased are still buried because residents believe the Ganga would transport them along its journey.
The worldwide media preferred to link the open burial of dead near the Ganga’s banks to the COVID deaths rather than researching it. It’s worth mentioning that the foreign press this year ignored the open burial of the dead near the river’s edge. COVID-19 cases have fallen substantially in India this year, with high vaccine coverage playing a critical role in the country’s ability to tackle the epidemic.
Bodies from various Uttar Pradesh districts have washed up on the Ganga’s banks.
“A Hindu funeral is marked by the pyre burning of a big amount of wood. At this moment, the Ganga has swallowed the body. “There’s nothing wrong with all of this,” Terthraj Patel, a local who was at the ghat for a relative’s funeral, said.
“The ghat is used by people from many districts. Throughout the summer, they are aware of the Ganga’s contraction. The bodies will be submerged as the river expands during the rainy season, saving their loved ones. “This is why people end themselves buried for a long time in sand,” he continued.
Another resident on the ghat predicted that the bodies will end up in the Ganga river.
“In the summer, the Ganga’s width narrows. When the water level rises, the bodies are absorbed into the Ganga’s flow, assisting in the attainment of moksha, according to folklore. Burying the deceased in sand is straightforward and affordable. As a result, individuals travel from all over the country to bury the bodies here, despite the fact that proper protocol is not followed “He persisted.
Despite the prohibition on burying dead bodies there, people continue to visit the ghats.
In the meantime, Prayagraj Municipal Commissioner Ravi Ranjan has declared that an electric crematorium will be built at the ghat.
“No bodies should be buried there,” the group maintains. With the proper department’s consent, an electric incinerator will be built there. “The job will be completed soon,” the official said, according to ANI.
During the second wave of COVID-19, bodies were discovered floating on the Ganga, according to reports from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. According to rumours, COVID victims’ relatives may not have been able to find a suitable site or afford funeral rituals. On the other hand, the current image reflects a different reality.