The Latest Breaking News from Ganga

Why Durga Maa’s Idol Needs Soil From a Courtesan’s Home

Every year, artisans in Bengal create magnificent idols of Goddess Durga. But one traditional ingredient used in some idol-making practices raises a powerful question: why is soil from the entrance of a courtesan’s home considered sacred? The custom, often associated with Nishiddho Pallisoil, is surrounded by religious interpretations and cultural…

MyLifeXP · Oct 10

One Bucket of River Water Can Reveal Every Species Living In It, Here's How eDNA Works

Every Animal Leaves a Genetic Signature BehindA fish does not need to be caught to be identified. As it swims, it sheds scales, mucus, urine, and faeces, each carrying fragments of its DNA into the surrounding water. The same is true for every aquatic creature: otters, frogs, turtles, even microscopic…

Times Life · Sep 30

Pitru Paksha: Why Indian Families Feed Their Dead Ancestors But Cannot Talk to the Living

The Fortnight That Arrives Every Year Without AskingPitru Paksha comes in the dark half of Bhadrapada, and your family knows exactly what to do. The men wake before sunrise. Someone has already bought the sesame seeds, the kusha grass, the black til. There is a list, and the list is…

Times Life · Sep 30

India's Freshwater Turtles Are Natural River Cleanup Crew, and They're Disappearing Fast

The biology behind the cleanupIndia has 29 species of freshwater turtles, and several of them are obligate scavengers, meaning their digestive systems are specifically adapted to break down decomposing flesh and organic matter that other animals avoid. The Indian softshell turtle (Nilssonia gangetica) and the Indian flapshell turtle (Lissemys punctata)…

Times Life · Sep 23

What Idol Immersion Puts Into a River: Plaster, Lead Paint, and the Fish Downstream

The chemistry of a submerged idolPlaster of Paris is calcium sulphate hemihydrate. When it enters water, it does not dissolve the way salt does. It absorbs water, hardens briefly, then breaks into fine particulate matter that suspends in the water column and settles into the riverbed. A study published in…

Times Life · Sep 23

Doctored ‘bikini in Ganga’ video goes viral; News18 runs it without verification

The story uses screenshots and not the actual viral video in view of its sensitive nature.

Newslaundry · Sep 16

India's Most Common Wild Cat Is the Jungle Cat, and You've Probably Mistaken It for a Stray

The cat nobody recognisesThe jungle cat has no spots, no dramatic rosettes, and no interest in being noticed. It is a plain, tawny-grey animal with a short tail, faint striping on the legs, and small tufts on the tips of its ears. That description sounds, to most people, exactly like…

Times Life · Sep 16

Why Rivers Are Seen as Living Goddesses Beside Hindu Temples?

There is something almost familiar about an old temple beside a river. You see people entering the temple with flowers in their hands, while others are sitting quietly near the water. Some take a holy dip, some offer prayers and some simply spend a few peaceful minutes by the river.…

MyLifeXP · Sep 15

Himalayas running out of water, 20% of India's GDP at risk: 200 glacial lakes linked to rivers like Ganga, Yamuna found to be high risk

A new report by Systemiq and the Integrated Mountain Initiative, backed by the Rockefeller Foundation, warns that the Himalayas are approaching a tipping point, with glaciers melting 65 percent faster than a decade ago. Nearly 200 glacial lakes have been rated high risk, and the region underpins over 20 percent…

The Economic Times · Sep 14

London hosts first-ever Ganga Aarti on River Thames

London's River Thames hosted its first Ganga Aarti ceremony on Sunday. This event celebrated nature and knowledge, honoring the life-giving flow of rivers. Chinmaya Mission UK organized the ceremony as part of global 75th-anniversary celebrations. The event symbolized gratitude and unity, bringing diverse communities together. It aimed to foster reverence…

The Economic Times · Sep 14