Paper short abstract:

This paper explores symbiotic relations between humans, microbes and divinity based on fieldwork on the banks of the Ganges. I bring together microbiology and Hindu rituals to explore entanglements between water, bacteriophages, and the Goddess Ganga during the COVID-19 pandemic in Varanasi.

Paper long abstract:

According to microbiologists the waters of the Ganges River are teeming with microbial lifeforms. Water quality testing and bacteriological analysis indicate extremely high levels of faecal coliforms and the prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the river. Despite this alarming situation described by the scientific data, the local population and pilgrims from across the country dip, bathe, and drink gangajal—holy Ganges water—on a daily basis.

My doctoral research started focusing on contemporary microbiological studies of the Ganges’ waters in Varanasi, especially on “friendly viruses”—bacteriophages. I interviewed and worked with microbiologists and other experts through participant observation in laboratories, conferences, and sample collection to think about human-microbe relationships by the banks of the Ganges. However, mid-way through my research a new virus came into the frame—the coronavirus—which has gone on to disrupt most of human life across the planet. During the pandemic, despite the disruption to my original field-sites, I was able to follow daily bathers and local Hindu priests closely in their everyday relations with gangajal and its microbial life.

In this paper I propose to look at the daily use of Ganges water as a human-microbe-divine relationship, bringing together microbiological and ritual conception of water to think about non-secular forms of symbiotic living. I explore the entanglement of bacteriophages and the healing powers of the Ganga goddess in relation to COVID-19 to think about everyday religion and science through the lens of the microscope.