I've been having such a great time doing my research (I'm a nerd, I'm well aware). I've been going to Assi Ghat (my local ghat) every morning at 7 with Pinku-ji to do interviews. It's been so exciting when people say exactly what I want them to say without any prodding! Some main themes I've noticed with my interviews:
Indians love to talk
Indians love to talk about the Ganges
People don't want to see the Ganges as polluted
People don't know anything about the clean-up projects (even the priests and the boatmen)
There seems to be a difference, in the mind of some, between the river herself and the water
There are some odd reasons for thinking the water is pure, but they work for the people who need them
In the mind of the people I've interviewed, the river isn't polluted, but it does need to be cleaned...

I met up with the New York program last night and got invited to their events while they are in Banaras. Last night, I crashed a music concert and invited myself to dinner. I fully plan on taking advantage of their Ganges related lectures.

Now I'm off to interview someone who works in a lab with the clean-up project. Maybe someone will finally know something about the projects!

I get to see Mom and Dad four weeks from today!