Chhath Puja: Essential Precautions for Safe River Bathing

As the grand festival of Chhath Puja is close at hand, preparations are under way across the country. Many devotees plan to immerse their deities in rivers and ponds. While offering the holy dips into river Yamuna and water tanks, particularly at those sites in Delhi, these necessary preventive measures are vital precautions: bathers should never, not bathe in any manner close to the foamy mess said health experts; furthermore devotees who want to perform immersion in waters also desist from such step.

Chhath Puja Warning: Toxic Foam in Yamuna Poses Health Risks 

The toxic foam is a mixture of industrial pollution with high concentrations of ammonia and phosphate in the Yamuna. According to dermatologist Dr. Deepali Bhardwaj, contact with such toxic foam can lead to skin allergies, irritation, dryness, and even acute eczema. This can prove to be particularly damaging to those with a family history of autoimmune conditions like diabetes and thyroid disorders, thereby increasing the risk of skin pigmentation issues and, in extreme cases, even skin cancer. Common bacterial and viral infections such as warts and TB can also spread among people in contaminated water.

According to Dr. Bhardwaj, long-term exposure to metals such as lead, mercury, and arsenic in water may lead to hair loss and hormonal imbalances in the body. Toxic foam causes respiratory problems by destroying lung tissues, and if there is high ammonia level in it, then it may sometimes cause gastrointestinal problems and causes diseases like typhoid.

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Therefore, devotees should be careful in performing the rituals in these waters. Avoid touching toxic foam and limit exposure to it as much as possible to reduce health risk. This can enable devotees to perform Chhath Puja safely without risking further health complications due to contaminated water.