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A comment on Pooping hippos create ‘community guts’ in African ponds.

Re:Pooping hippos create ‘community guts’ in African ponds by 1cvmask on Sunday December 12, 2021 @04:53PM (#29534026)
Humans display similar outcomes in the Ganges river. But it is dangerous for outside tourists for sure and it seems the locals are immune or inoculated to all the e. coli bacili in the river. The humans there believe the river to be purifying the soul and spirit.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganges

https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/fatal-bacteria-like-e-...

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Re:Pooping hippos create ‘community guts’ in African ponds by esgang on Sunday December 12, 2021 @07:08PM (#29535085)
I was traveling in Rishikesh and there was an enormous pilgrimage for people to visit a temple dedicated to Shiva. I learned of a number of fascinating traditions from the pilgrims.

One was to fill a water bottle with "Ganga Water" to splash onto some hanging fabric at the entrance of the temple.

On the 14km hike up the mountain to the temple I was invited to a chillum circle. As we sat around smoking and talking I saw one of the other people reach down and take a drink from the water bottles so many people had hanging from their belts.

I asked, "Is that... your Ganga water?"

They responded, "Yes! Would you like some?"

I said, "Thank you, but my body is unfamiliar with drinking Ganga Water. I think it will make me sick."

They replied, "Maybe you are already sick if you are unable to drink Ganga Water."

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Re:Pooping hippos create ‘community guts’ in African ponds by sjtindell on Sunday December 12, 2021 @05:03PM (#29534116)
When I visited Varanasi there were literally bodies and ashes being put in the river right upstream from thousands of people bathing, drinking, playing, and worshipping. Wild.
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