Do people swear by river Thames in the UK?
In India we consider rivers to be holy and respect them. Sometimes swearing by them to prove a point. But in Namastey London, Bebo Malhotra (an UK based NRI) swears by river Thames to vouch for her daughter's virginity and even compares Thames to Ganga. Is Thames in UK considered to be holy or auspicious? I mean do people swear by Thames in the UK?
Best Answer
I have lived in the UK for over 35 years and I have never heard this expression once. To the best of my knowledge there is no sentiment, emotional or spiritual attached to that (or any other) river.
It is probably a quirk of the speaker. He considers rivers holy but has relocated to the UK so it the famous UK rivers that come to his mind.
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Is the Thames OK to swim in?
The tidal Thames is a fast-flowing waterway and the busiest inland waterway in the UK accommodating over 20,000 ship movements and hosting over 400 events each year. It is for these reasons the PLA restricts swimming throughout the majority of its jurisdiction for the safety of swimmers and river users.How long does it take to drown in the Thames?
'The initial shock of the cold water is often what leads to people going subsurface and subsequently drowning. 'Cold water shock is a killer and Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) figures tell us that in waters like this on the Thames, within three minutes people will start to suffer from its effects.Is the River Thames used for anything?
Perhaps surprisingly, water for cooling in electricity generating stations is the biggest use, followed by waster for domestic purposes, fish farming and industrial uses. Power Stations along the Thames take cold water from the Thames and return most of it after use. The water is used to cool the machines.London: Disgusting Island in the Thames | Outside Views on Brexit and UK politics
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Answer 2
I grew up in the London area and never ever heard anyone swearing by the Thames in the manner you describe. It is entirely possible that people of Indian origin have transplanted this behaviour but no local would do so.
Swearing by the Thames, in the sense of cursing while in the vicinity of the river, is rather more common - especially after the pubs close.
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