A Very English Ganges
Saturday 19 November 2005 22:15-22:35 (Radio 3)
Every Hindu traditionally wishes to have their ashes scattered on the holy waters of the Ganges. But what of the British Hindu community who have made their homes here?
While many make the long trip to India with the ashes of a loved one, others have adapted this ancient ritual to modern life in this country, and have quietly found an alternative 'English Ganges' closer to home.
Poet Debjani Chatterjee portrays Hindus scattering ashes on British rivers. She takes us on a poetic journey - of the soul and of a generation finding new ways to uphold tradition, based on the Hindu belief that ultimately all rivers become one.
