River god, Calcutta
India
On my first day in India, they began throwing statues of gods into the Ganges River. These beautifully painted plaster creations would be placed in a boat and rowwed to the center of the river and then dunked. I never found out why.
Share your story
Govind Seshadri writes:
The ritualistic immersion in the Ganges culminates the 5 day Durga festival. This event signifies the return of Durga to her heavenly abode in Mount Kailash, the source of the Ganges.
India Najones writes:
Immersion in any water body is considered a respectful way of disposing auspicious objects such as idols of gods and goddesses, ancestral ashes, etc.