Why Filth Is A Religious Issue

The photo above depicts the Riverfront district of the Indian city of Varanasi, captured from across the Ganges River. While in India in 2019, I spent several days there watching the nightly Ganga Aarti ceremony to bless the river. It was one of my favorite locations in the country, and the city is one of my favorite in the world…

AND…

This image is an accurate depiction of much of India. The idea that the world shares Western or American values is desperately false. 

The following example may make you uncomfortable:

While in Varanasi one day, I was walking along the waterfront minding my own business, when a group of young people—probably students—walked up to me. They asked if I wouldn't mind talking to them for a moment to help them answer questions about Varanasi tourism. I said sure. The leader, a young woman in a crisp white polo shirt with an official-looking embroidered logo, asked in clear English, "What things would you change to make Varanasi more appealing to tourists?" 

Having spent several days there already, I had some ideas. I asked, "May I be honest with you?" The leader said yes I could. I asked, "Are you sure?" And she said yes.

I told her that the best thing Varanasi could do to make the city more appealing to tourists would be to hose down the alleyways leading to the Riverfront. Every day. 

The alleyways were full of stray dogs, cattle, and goats, who would deposit piles of feces every few feet. At my hostel, we were required to take our shoes off at the entrance and walk around the property in socks, because who knew what our shoes would track in from the street. I explained to her that Westerners have different standards of sanitation, and that it would help improve the city and make it more appealing to travelers—plus more healthy for residents—to undertake this effort.

The young woman looked at me as if I had just said something incomprehensible to her. She thanked me without asking any further questions, and led her group away. To this day, I don't know if she was personally offended or if I had said something that she considered logistically impossible. Maybe both.

But Varanasi isn't an out-of-the-way backwater. The Riverfront is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In fact, the UNESCO website describes it as, "one of the highest embodiments of Indian culture and spirituality." 

The Ganges river is also filthy at this point in its journey down from the mountains. In fact, filthy isn't even the right word. It's not only polluted with industrial wast, human waste and rubbish (as you can see), but also the burnt remains of Hindu believers whose bodies are transported from across the country to be cremated and dumped into the river.

If UNESCO considers this a heritage site, and the "highest embodiment of a nation's culture and spirituality" then we as Americans and Westerners are entitled to ask: Is this embodiment of culture and spirituality compatible with our own? 

We are allowed to ask this question. We are also allowed to answer it in the negative and establish, protect, and enforce standards that exemplify our own highest embodiment of culture and spirituality.

If it's OK for Indians to do so, it is OK for Americans, French, Germans, Japanese, and others to do so, as well.

Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. 

If they try, tell them to get a passport and travel to these nations themselves. Walk around for a bit. See what they think. 

There is much beauty in India, to be sure. But that's not all there is. 

Which is why you shouldn't forget to take your shoes off at the door.