The various sacred traditions and beliefs of Hindus capture the attention of people from different cultures across the world. From believing that Brahman is perceived as an impersonal form of God to performing Bhakti yoga to surrendering the soul to God, Hinduism promotes innovative ideas for calming and relaxing the body, mind and spirit. In addition to these particular practices, Hindus respect the geographical environment of the Indus River Valley. It is said that from this “valley” ritual purity was important and was often achieved by bathing or using the water. In accordance with the previous statement, a certain tradition stimulates further research among historians. This tradition involves purification and bathing of the body, the sacrifice of animals and the burning of the deceased bodies in the Ganges River. Today, these cleansing rituals have arguably given rise not only to the most harmful health problems and widespread diseases among the inhabitants of the banks of the sacred Ganges River, but have also caused unwanted environmental disruptions. An article titled “A Holy River Under Attack” from the New York Times highlights the so-called “assaults” on the Ganges River, “…a sacred river, in a holy city, under assault by shovels, picks and diggers…large stones and boulders they are pulverized by noisy machines that cover orchards and villages in dust.” The Ganges River has become worth millions of dollars in recent years due to mining. The impact of mining on nearby towns and the river itself includes pollution, dust clouds and “profound disrespect for Hinduism's holiest river” (Morrison). This controversy has led to multiple court cases and fasting rituals by supporters of Hinduism w...... middle of paper ......d. Network. 05 December 2013."Sacred groves of India." Sacred groves of India. Np, nd Web. 05 Dec 2013. Singh, A. K. "Chemistry of Aresenic in Groundwater of the Ganges-Brahmaputra River Basin." (nd): n. page Academic research completed. Network. December 4, 2013. "Swagatam | Vishwa Hindu Parishad | Official site." Official website of Vishwa Hindu Parishad Swagatam Commentaries. Np, nd Web. 05 December 2013. "Tehri Dam Rehabilitation Issue Heats Up Again." The times of India. Np, nd Web. 05 December 2013.Tomalin, Emma. “Biodivinity and Biodiversity: Perspectives on Religion and Environmental Conservation in India.” Page No. Web.Van Voorst, Robert. Anthology of the Scriptures of the World. 8th ed. Boston: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2011. 49. Print.Wax, Emily. "A sacred river endangered by global warming." The Washington Post. The Washington Post, June 17, 2007. Web. October 2 2013.