In what is otherwise a rather normal BBC article about pollution in the Ganges (http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-28112403), we come across this spectacular explanation for cremation in Varanasi, namely thatÂ
According to the Hindu faith, anyone cremated in Varanasi is freed from Moksha, the cycle of life and death, if part of their cremated body is placed in the river as an offering.
As the lovely expression I learnt from "If I ran the zoo" has it, I almost swallowed my gum.
file this under 'new lows department'
jonathan
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J. SilkInstituut Kern / Universiteit Leiden
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