Indian woman dips phone in river to help husband take virtual holy dip

In India, a woman dipped her mobile phone in the river while on a video call with her husband, allowing him to experience a virtual holy dip at Triveni Sangam during the Maha Kumbh festival in Prayagraj.

The woman, who attended the Kumbh Mela without her husband, repeatedly submerged her phone in the water while he remained on the call. A video of the act went viral on social media.

In the video, the woman can be seen on a video call with her husband before lowering the phone into the river.

During the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, thousands of devotees take ritualistic dips in the sacred waters, believing it grants spiritual purification. 

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The holy bath is performed at the confluence of three revered rivers, the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati, which are believed to cleanse sins and offer salvation.

While many attributed the act to the couple's sincere devotion, others reacted with sarcasm, including one social media user who quipped that the woman's phone was 'high-standard waterproof.

Recently, a shocking report revealed that the Ganga river in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, where thousands of devotees took a dip during the Hindu festival, is contaminated with bacteria found in human and animal waste.

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The report, prepared by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), found high levels of faecal coliform bacteria, indicating significant sewage contamination in the river.

Faecal coliform is a group of microorganisms present in human and animal intestines, and its presence in water suggests contamination with sewage. Such bacteria can lead to the spread of viruses and other harmful pathogens, raising serious health concerns.

"The river water quality did not meet primary bathing standards with respect to fecal coliform at all monitored locations. A large number of people bathe in the river at Prayagraj during the Maha Kumbh Mela, especially on auspicious bathing days, which leads to an increase in fecal concentration," the report stated.