Faecal bacteria in Ganga? Lets do an absolute scientific FACTCHECK about the Sacred River
Scientific research conducted over the years on the properties of Ganga Jal provides a strong counterargument. What makes Ganga Jal unique, and why is it considered so sacred in Hinduism?
NewsBharati 26-Feb-2025 12:10:25 PM
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The overwhelming response to the Mahakumbh and crores of Hindus across globe gathering to take a holy dip in Ganga has raised a serious question—does the growing influence of Hinduism seem unsettling to certain sections of society? There has been a continuous attempt, through various media platforms, to warn devotees visiting the Ganges about the risk of bacterial and skin infections. But how much truth lies in these claims?
Scientific research conducted over the years on the properties of Ganga Jal provides a strong counterargument. What makes Ganga Jal unique, and why is it considered so sacred in Hinduism? Let’s explore and understand its remarkable qualities.
Facts about the holy river & the holy dip
Ganga originates from Gangotri in Uttarakhand and is a unique freshwater ecosystem that travels approximately 2,525 km before merging into the Indian Ocean through the Bay of Bengal. The confluence point is known as Ganga Sagar (West Bengal). Along its journey, the sacred river nourishes almost the entire northern and parts of eastern India, holding immense significance in the lives of millions.
However, during the Mahakumbh, when Hindus from across the world gather to take a holy dip in the Ganga, there is a persistent narrative being pushed—that the river’s water is not only impure but also unfit for human health. But what does scientific research say about the so-called "questionable purity" of Ganga Jal? Let’s see what scientific research suggests;
What have scientists discovered over ages about 'Ganga'?
Geographical research has revealed that the Himalayas were formed at the very site where the Tethys Ocean once existed, due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. This establishes the ancient link between the Himalayas and the ocean, which also explains the discovery of marine fossils at great altitudes in the mountain range.
Research says that river ganga has tendency to purify itself and heel others. May be this is because, in ancient times this river was blessed by vishnu ji, shiv ji and many great sages. pic.twitter.com/ComKxpzcxf
— Hathyogi (हठयोगी) (@hathyogi31) October 26, 2022
Scientific studies have further confirmed the remarkable antibacterial properties of Ganga water. One of the most significant proofs of this phenomenon is its ability to retain high levels of dissolved oxygen even in highly polluted environments. The first recorded discovery of this unique trait was made by British bacteriologist Ernest Hankin in 1896. His research demonstrated that cholera bacteria, which thrive in regular tap water, were rapidly destroyed upon contact with Ganga water.
Source: Impact of mass ritualistic bathing on the level of trace elements in Ganga water during Maha-Kumbh 2013 at Allahabad. Study includes five sampling sites and eight special ritualistic bathing events. YC, Yamuna control; GC, Ganga control; S-I, Sangam-I; S-II, Sangam-II; AS, after Sangam
To examine this further, Hankin conducted an experiment using two samples of Ganga water—one was boiled, and the other was filtered. His findings were fascinating: the filtered water retained its antibacterial properties, while the boiled water lost them. This led to the conclusion that the element responsible for Ganga’s bactericidal nature is heat-sensitive.
Nearly two decades later, in 1916, Canadian microbiologist Félix d’Hérelle, while researching at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, discovered and explained the structure of bacteriophages (phages)—viruses composed of a protein outer shell containing genetic material inside. Interestingly, these phages also exhibited heat-sensitive properties, which perfectly aligned with Hankin’s earlier discoveries.
Doesn’t need a Dr. or a microscope to prove that Ganga water is clean. It’s visible to naked eye that water isn’t germ free. pic.twitter.com/J8NY2Nwavh
— Priyamwada (@PriaINC) February 23, 2025
What an Irony..#PriyankaGandhi is travelling on a national waterway planned and started by Nitin Gadkari over the Ganga River to talk to villagers near the banks between Prayagraj till Varanasi explaining why ganga is still unclean..😂#gangayatra #VampireCongress pic.twitter.com/Iy6nj8wnwX
— Baaba (@Baaba_Goel) March 18, 2019
UP govt latest claim is 60 crore have visited mahakumbh. That means roughly 40% of India's population has had an intense "Faecal Bacteria" bath in a single location. Should this deserve an entry in guinness book of records?
— M K Venu (@mkvenu1) February 22, 2025
The self-purifying and self-regenerating ability of Ganga Jal was nothing short of astonishing for Western scientists.
This divine purity is precisely why no Hindu ritual is considered complete without the use of Ganga Jal.
The deep reverence for the river in Sanatan Dharma reflects the profound knowledge ancient Indian sages possessed about its unique properties. When we connect this scientific research with the descriptions of the Ganges in the Vedas, it truly feels like there is ‘heaven in the Ganges.’
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Himali Nalawade
Himali Nalawade is associated with News Bharati as an Author since a considerable period. She is mostly linked with researched articles from the areas of Defence, Defence Infrastructure and Culture-Religion. Along with her Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism after her graduation in History, she has also studied Diploma in Underwater Archaeology and Diploma in Indology.
