NAINA ADHIKARI

From Bosnia to Bolivia, Uganda to North Carolina, activists are raising their voices and fighting for the rivers that run through us all. River Warriors, a column presented by NRS, aims to profile individuals fighting for healthy, free-flowing rivers around the world.

BY BROOKE HESS

The Ganga (Ganges) River runs 2,704 kilometers southeast from the western Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, emptying into the Bay of Bengal. Named after the Hindu goddess of purification, for Hindus, the Ganga River is pure and sacred. Hindus believe that bathing in the Ganga River will offer forgiveness of their sins, bringing them closer to moksha, or enlightenment. Pilgrims travel from all over the world to bathe in the Ganga and to disperse the ashes of family members. Unfortunately, ashes are not the only thing disposed of in the Ganga River, says Naina Adhikari, India’s top female kayaker. “It has become habitual for people to dispose of waste into the rivers. They do not realize the impact it has on the ecosystem,” says Naina. It’s a problem…

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Kayak Session (Digital) - 1 Issue, Winter 2020

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