River Ganga

The holiest of all the rivers, Ganga or the Ganges is a perennial river originating in the Himalayas.  It is 2, 510 km long and is one of the major rivers of the Indian subcontinent that flows  through the Gangetic Plain of northern India into Bangladesh. This holy river originates at the Gangotri Glacier in Uttarakhand State which is in the central Himalayas.

The river Ganga is known as the religious icon of India throughout the world. Considered highly sacred, the river supports the religious and the life functions of the people in India. Since ages people have been using rivers for the purpose of  drinking, bathing, agricultural activities, transportation, as an energy source,  religious ceremonies and many more.

River Ganga is the holiest of all the rivers in India. Throughout the course of Indian civilization this perennial river is held in high esteem by the Hindus. It is significantly attached to the hindus ethos and repeatedly mention in almost all the holy scriptures of Hindus. This river is auspicious as it plays a prominent role in human life, starting from birth to death. At the time of baby birth riutals are performed at the bank of this river and when anyone dies their cremated remains are put into this river because of the believe that it cleanses one's soul and help it attain moksha.

The river Ganga is a goddess and is known as Ganga Devi. She is one of the two daughters of Meru Parvat(the Himalayas). Ganga is the river of heaven which was brought down to the Earth by Bhagiratha after thousands years of severe austerities. The river came down from haven and fell first into Shiva's matted hair, and then on the earth. The site where the present day temple at Ganagotri stands is the place where this holy river first touched the earth. After coming to earth  Bhagiratha guided this river to the spot where lay the ashes of his six thousand sons, thus finally there soul got liberated and immortalised. Since then it is believed that cremation beside this river and submission of remains of cremation to this river immortalises the soul.

The Ganga has many names which is based on its roles in Sanskrit mythology. Bhagiratha himself is the source of the name Bhagirathi (of Bhagiratha) which is its initial stream. At one point, Bhagiratha went too close to the sage Jahnu's meditation site which annoyed him and the hermit immediately gulped down all the waters. And after persuasion from Bhagiratha the sage yielded the waters and Ganga got  the name 'Jahnavi' from there.
Beside Ganga situated several holy cities of India some of the well known pilgrimage are Varansai, Haridwar , Gangasagar etc.

During the Kumbh Mela people from all nook and corner of India gather at Haridwar to take a dip in the holy waters of river Ganga. According to the Hindu mythology it is believed that taking a dip in the holy river at Haridwar removes all past sins and evils from an individual's life. It is also believed that bathing in river Ganga on this day cleanses one's sins and prepares one for Moksha. Another belief associated with it is that the alignment of Sun, Moon and Jupiter on this day casts  special healing powers to the waters of Ganga. According to Indian astrologers the waters of river Ganga at Har ki Pauri in Haridwar transforms into nectar during Kumbh Mela. Bathing at this ghat during the Mela purifies one's being.