Research into how the Ganges waters are conceived, manipulated and experienced is the theme of an event at LISA

The Laboratory of Image and Sound in Anthropology (LISA-USP) will host, on June 26, 2025, at 7 pm, the lecture "Microbes and Rituals in  Varanasi: an ethnography through the waters of the Ganges River". The event is an extension activity of the Anthropology and  Biotechnodiversity Collective (CHAMA-USP) and is part of the program of the discipline "Anthropology of Microorganisms", coordinated by  Guilherme Moura Fagundes.

Victor Secco will present central themes of his doctoral research, defended at the University of Manchester (England), which investigates the  intersections between science, religion and multispecies interactions, based on an ethnography conducted with Hindu priests and  microbiologists in the city of Varanasi, in northern India. The Ganges River, which runs through the city, is simultaneously revered for its  sacred waters and known for its high levels of pollution. While millions of people depend on these waters for religious rituals and daily  activities, the river receives huge volumes of sewage and other pollutants every day. Microbiological research reveals the presence of several  bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains, but also identifies therapeutic potentials, such as the use of bacteriophages for treatments.

From this context, Victor’s ethnography explores how the waters of the Ganges are conceived, manipulated and experienced, articulating  relationships with microbes and deities. His analysis sheds light on the material and symbolic qualities of water, especially in light of the  challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. On this occasion, Victor will also give a brief presentation of his ongoing postdoctoral research  at Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia, which investigates the relationships between humans and microorganisms in the emerging field of so-called planetary biology.