 Rising from a Himalayan ice cave and emptying into the bay of Bengal, the Ganges River is sacred to Hindus as a purifying spirit—yet it currently suffers from pollution and neglect. This program follows the Ganges through various Indian cities, studying their relationship with the river and assessing its uncertain future. Beginning in Gangotri, the program profiles a photographer who has documented disturbing changes on the surrounding ice fields. Next comes Haridwar, situated on fertile flood plains—the breadbasket of India—and then Kanpur, a megacity of four million blanketed by industrial smog. The final stop is Varanasi, the most revered city in the Hindu world. (52 minutes)
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