Litter below a Hindu temple, Kathmandu, Nepal
Jal Binayek is an important Ganesh temple on the banks of the Bagmati river south of the capital city of Nepal Here the river exits Kathmandu and is extremely polluted In the months before the monsoon begins the stench is quite overpowering This was taken in 2005 shortly after the monsoon finished when the river is at its fullest and cleanest The flotsam and jetsam lies just above the water line perhaps some of it due to tipping The stone turret in the right foreground is for cremation but they no longer seem to be used especially as sweeping off the ashes would not put them into the holy river Presumably the steps would once have led down to the water for ritual bathing There is a water shortage in Kathmandu and this may have caused the river to recede It’s caused by increased demand from western lifestyles and by hydro electric power supplies and the associated damns outside the valley The temple structure itself is classic Nepali pagoda roofs with a row of brick arches Ganesh is the elephant headed hindu god and this is a popular and much used place of worship The litter problem is not recognised as such by the local population which is a common perception in many third world countries
Size: 5491px × 3661px
Photo credit: © Nepal Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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