Over the course of the semester, I have done extensive amount of research on Hindu religious ceremonies that involve making offerings into bodies of water. Hindus revere the Ganges as an embodiment of purity, sacredness and spiritual rejuvenation. The Ganges and Her sister rivers all over the world are considered manifestations of the Goddess who descended onto earth for the welfare of mankind. Used in innumerable ways, water provides nourishment, sustenance and is the very lifeblood of our existence.  

Hindus make offerings to the Divine Mother by placing prescribed items in bodies of water. Offerings include flags, bamboo sticks, earthen lamps, flowers, icons, uncooked rice, dyes, cloths, foods and spices, fruits, milk, water and an assortment of other ingredients. Often times, unprescribed items, such as aluminum foil, accompany these offerings. The offerings made to Mother Ganga are re-enacted on a daily basis in every region on the globe where Hindus reside. Rivers from the Essequibo to the Orinoco and to the Jamaica Bay in New York have become the recipient of a multitude of offerings made by Indo-Caribbean Hindus.

They intend to give back what they have received and to gratify the Goddess. However, at the Jamaica Bay in Queens, NY, Hindus have begun to attract the attention of authorities. Jamaica Bay surrounds the Gateway National Recreation Area, a preserve containing a wildlife refuge known for its biodiversity. While they are welcomed to perform ceremonies on the banks of the beaches, Hindus are prohibited from making offerings into the Bay. Officials ensure that regulations are followed by imposing hefty fines on individuals seen depositing items in the water.

Many people are reluctant to change their deeply rooted cultural and religious practices or simply do not know what else to do with ritual items. As I noted in my earlier posts, while many are unwilling to adhere to restrictions that discourage the placement of all ritual items into rivers and beaches, an increasing number of Hindus have stopped dumping explicitly toxic or deleterious items, such as camphor and aluminum foil.

The Hindu Federation of Mandirs, one of the leading authoritative Hindu organizations in Queens, NY, has begun educating the hundreds of thousands of Indo-Carribbean Hindus in New York on altering ecologically destructive practices. I have spoken to a number of priests, community activists and city officials with the objective of finding an environmentally friendly and spiritually acceptable solution. Though a definitive solution has not yet been met, the efforts of the parties involved to increase awareness and sustainable practices have been remarkable. Priests and other leaders have started an environmental revolution and education campaign. Devotees listen to their leaders and are now consciously differentiating biodegradable from non-biodegradable. This approach, which recognizes that humans are responsible for polluting the river and not the Goddess, is that of Veer Bhadra Mishra:  "We are allowing our mother to be defiled."

The following film is entitled, "Paani: Conservation from the Ganges to Jamaica Bay." Paani is the Hindi word for "water," the resource that sustains all living beings. The film is the culmination of months of research and active communication with many individuals whom I cannot thank enough. I must express my sincere gratitude to Professor Dittrick, who inspired me to commence this journey which has been extremely fulfilling and worthwhile. Also, I must thank my mentors, Pandit Chunelall Narine and Dr. Dhanpaul Narine, for their guidance and direction.

The short documentary addresses the conflict between worshipping and protecting bodies of water. The following questions are explored: To what extent has the local community responded to the calls? What forms did the education take? What can the Federal authorities do in the face of ancient Hindu traditions? Can there ever be a meeting of the minds on the need to practice conservation at Jamaica Bay?