The myth of throwing coins in rivers and fountains in Europe, Africa and Asia : the consequences

We often notice a lot of people throwing/ dropping coins into water. It is being noticed everywhere, on all the water rides people would throw money into the water, in park people are seen throwing money into ponds, even if we go to a shopping centre we can see people throwing money into the fountains.

Myth in India

One of the most common practice in India and few other countries is to throw coins in the river. The logic behind throwing coins in rivers is making a materialistic sacrifice in return for a wish to be granted. Rivers are considered Holy and giving coins is treated to bring good luck.As seen in India, whenever a train crosses a river or some other water body, large number of Indians throw coins in water and make a wish.

How many trains do you think in India passes over any bridge that crosses rivers every day.Let’s assume 100 times per day (minimum assumption) rivers are crossed by trains carrying passengers. Now how many coins do you think are thrown in the river by Indians for grant of their wishes! Let’ say 200 coins are thrown by passengers of a single train when it crosses any river. India is a land of many rivers and holy water bodies. If we look at the stats considering that trains in India passes through rivers 100 times (on the lowest side), the total number of coins thrown in to the rivers comes out to be 20000 coins per day (i.e. 100 rivers crossings X 200 coins by passengers). It means 600000 coins per month are thrown into river every month!!! (excluding coins being thrown everyday into ponds, fountains and other water bodies)

Image Source: http://citizensdaily.in

Think of how much Indian currency is thrown in such a way every day! What may be the consequence on Indian economy?

Likewise how the people are hampering the economy of their respective countries following these rituals!

Myth in Europe and Africa

Children grow up dropping coins into fountains and they become habituated at a young age to make a wish as they do it. In most cases, even the parents do not have any idea as to why they have this tradition – it’s just something they have followed when they were young.

As per the report of fountain Money Fountain in 2006 about 3 million pounds per year was being thrown into the wishing well by tourist. Just imagine what may be the actual count in 2018.

How does the tradition of throwing coins into water started in India and other parts of world ?

India

In ancient India, the livelihoods of people were dependent on rivers. Occupation such as agriculture, irrigation etc. and daily drinking water were all based on rivers. Having clean water for survival was essential as rivers were the only source of water at that time. Ancient currencies were made of copper, an element that helps human body to maintain health. In order to maintain the purity of water, these coins were thrown into the water bodies by people.

These copper coins once thrown in the river, would dissolve in the water to provide with benefic result to human body. Copper also resulted in pulling down of all the dirt in the river and allowing clean and fresh water to flow freely on the top besides killing harmful microbes.In ancient times, kings had also made it mandatory for all person to throw copper coins in the nearby sources of water or reservoirs as it was considered as the best metal to purify water.

Europe and Africa

In ancient Europe and Africa, tribes were on a constant hunt for potable drinking water. They finally discovered a suitable watering hole that was considered to be a gift from the God.

As per the custom in early times, providing an offering to the Gods was a very common practice. The earliest version of making a wish was to toss a coin in the well by the people of the tribe while sending up a prayer.

One of the famous well that proves this theory of coins offerings to well is the Coventina well in Northumberland county in the United Kingdom. This well was dedicated to Coventina, the Romano-British Goddess of Well and Springs.Scientists uncovered more than 16,000 coins from different eras of the Roman Empire after the well was discovered. This proves that coins were used to honor the Gods.

In modern times, the common practice of tossing coins in the water for a wish has survived over the course of hundreds of years. One of the most popular wishing fountains in the world is the Trevi Fountain in Rome. It is believed that that drinking water from the fountain, or tossing a coin in the fountain would provide you with good health.

Image Source: https://www.wantedinrome.com

Consequences

The same tradition of throwing coins into river has been followed today but with the motive of wish fulfillment resulting in water pollution. Nowadays, the composition of coins (Indian coins) are 83% iron/ steel and 17 % chromium. Chromium is one of the most toxic metals that contaminate water and result in many diseases. If the level of chromium rises to 0.05% per liter, it becomes poisonous that may even lead to cancer in the body of persons consuming this contaminated water.

In European and African countries too coins are made out of variety of metals such as nickel, manganese or zinc that may pollute the water everywhere as a result of water cycle.

Just think of the situation and its catastrophic results in India and other parts of the world!!!

Don’t you think that we all are bound with some responsibilities with regard to

1. Preventing the loss of worldwide currencies (wherever this ritual is being followed) in the name of faith and
2. Stop contamination of water for our better life

If you think the answer is ‘Yes’ , it’s a humble request to everyone to explain it to your friends, children, uneducatedand superstitious persons so that there is no undue mistake. We all need to educate everyone the harmful effect of throwing coins into water bodies.

Please share this information as an initiative to keep our water free from being polluted.

Thank you