Sanctity of glaciers

Glaciers are known as silent guardians of life. Mountains and their ecosystems have been important to religious beliefs in many regions around the world. Mountain landscapes in the Peruvian Andes, Nepalese Himalayan region and the Meili Snow Mountains of Yunnan, China, are all considered sacred by people of the region who see them as life-givers and protectors. Glacial decline due to global warming and climate change is not only devastating physical ecology and water resources; it is impacting faith of those who repose their hope in these natural water reservoirs. 70% of the world's water supply comes from pristine glaciers. They are natural water reservoirs. Mountains, glaciers and rivers are all considered abodes of deities.

Despite deification of natural resources, they continue to be exploited by us. River Ganga, for example, is considered sacred but tonnes of effluents are dumped into its waters. Glacier melting is due to deforestation, carbon emissions and warming, and as waters rise, there is the danger of flooding coastal habitats. Glacial retreat is believed to be disrupting spiritual values, beliefs and practices among indigenous populations who venerate mountains, rivers and glaciers as life-giving deities.

The issue is that major destruction happens not through the faithful, but via large industries, unfriendly government policies and irreverent use of natural resources. Sacred groves in villages around temples to local deities have managed to preserve and protect green cover, locally. But this is not the case with large water bodies that need more than faith-intervention to overcome exploitation.