NEW DELHI, July 16 – As the first light of day breaks, Ramu Gupta hoists a blue bag over his shoulder and makes his way to the Yamuna River, driven by hope and necessity.

At 67 years old, Gupta is among the many "gotakhors"—local divers—who search the waters for coins, metal scraps, old bottles, and small objects they can sell at Delhi’s thriving recycling markets.

“I make around 5,000 rupees ($58) a month from this,” said Gupta, who also works as a toilet cleaner next to his modest home. The additional earnings go into savings for his two grandchildren, whom he hopes to support as they grow older.

In Hindu tradition, rivers are revered as sacred, and many pilgrims offer coins, coconuts, and flowers to the deities believed to reside in the flowing waters. These divine offerings form part of a spiritual connection to nature and its life-giving powers.

The Yamuna, which begins its journey in the Himalayan mountains, is especially holy. People scatter ashes of loved ones in its current and sometimes cast jewelry and valuable belongings into its depths as part of final rites.

Despite the thick pollution clouding its waters, Gupta and other divers plunge into the river daily, accepting the risks to their health in search of treasure.

He visits the river every morning and evening without fail, squeezing in his full-time janitorial duties during the day—a daily rhythm he has maintained for over three decades.

Another diver, 29-year-old Arvind Kumar, has been dedicating himself to this work exclusively for nearly 12 years.

“This job doesn’t come with a steady paycheck,” he explained. On a good day, he might earn up to 600 rupees, still less than the government’s minimum daily wage for unskilled labor.

The majority of items they recover include coins, plastic containers, and glass bottles.

Every now and then, they get lucky with small pieces of gold. On rare occasions, they even uncover rings or necklaces.

They sometimes stumble upon human remains, and local authorities occasionally request their help in retrieving bodies. When someone is swept away by the current, they may try to save them.

“It brings us more joy than the person we rescue,” said Gupta.

A devoted follower of Hindu faith, Gupta believes he is protected by “Mata Rani,” the revered Mother Goddess.

“So why fear?” he said. “If she wants me to live, she’ll protect me. If not, it’s my time.” ($1 = 85.85 Indian rupees)