What is your honest impression of this purification ritual? Should such a ritual and tradition considered as primitive or superstitious? If yes, why?If not, why not?

Friends,

In this slide show you will find images of Hindu pilgrims who are doing their purification ritual in the Ganges River, the holiest river in Hinduism.

One of the most favored spot is Varanasi, a city along the Ganges River in Northern India.

What is happening in that place? Here is what our textbook tells us: “you will see people bathing in holy water, drinking it, and praying as they stand in it -- while

the city’s sewage flows into it nearby, and the partially cremated corpses of people and animals float past. It is one of the world’s most compelling -– and

disturbing -- sights.”

However, to Hindu faithful, “the river’s water is immaculate, and no amount of human (or other) waste can pollute it. On the contrary: just touching the water

can wash away a believer’s sins.”

This week’s discussion question is this: What is your honest impression of this purification ritual? Should such a ritual and

tradition considered as primitive or superstitious? If yes, why? If not, why not?

As you know, the foundation of a meaningful discussion is the honesty and openness of our hearts and minds.