Did you know that the Ganges is considered to be the most sacred river in all of India?It is said that taking a bath in the Ganges River can wash away all of your sins and it is a place where many Hindus go to pray. However, due to the rising pollution in its water, that may not be very safe to do in the present day.The River Ganges rises in the Himalayas of Northern India and empties into the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh. Throughout its journey, this river flows through 11 Indian states, forming the extremely fertile Ganges river basin along with other rivers.In this blog post, we will explore some interesting facts about the Ganges River. We will discuss its history, how it has affected Indian culture, and why it is such an important part of Hinduism.Ecological Facts About The Ganges RiverThe River Ganges starts from the Gangotri glacier in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. The glacier is located at an altitude of over 11,000 ft (3,300 m) and is regarded as the seat of the goddess Ganga.The Ganges is formed by five headwater streams that converge to create the mighty river. These are the Dhauliganga, Alaknanda, Pindar, Bhilangana, and Mandakini. The most important of these is the Bhagirathi River, which is the first source to empty from the Gangotri glacier. The river flows south for about 1,560 mi (2,510 km) before it empties into the Bay of Bengal. Along the way, the Ganges passes through some of India’s most populated areas, including the cities of Allahabad (now Prayagraj) and Varanasi. The catchment area covers 26% of land and 43% population of the whole of India.The sacred river flows through no less than 11 states on its way to the Bay of Bengal, the surrounding area of which constitutes the Ganges basin. These are Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, Chattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, and West Bengal. Beyond West Bengal, the river flows into the neighboring country of Bangladesh, where it endures the last leg of its journey. It also has tributaries that flow into Nepal and Tibet, parts of which are included in the Indo Gangetic plain.Once the river reaches what is called the Ganges delta, it begins draining into the Bay of Bengal through a number of small channels. The largest of these is the Meghna Estuary. The Bay of Bengal is essentially the northern part of the Indian Ocean, so the Ganges flows from the sacred peaks of the Himalayas to the holy Indian Ocean. Thus, it truly is an important river for the people of India.The river basin formed by the Ganges is home to almost four hundred million people. The various streams of the river as it reaches the end of its journey and the subsequent watershed give rise to an extremely fertile area of land, which sustains the livelihood of a number of villages and towns on its banks.Freshwater Facts About The Ganges RiverThe Ganges River is one of the most sacred rivers in the world. However, were you aware that it is also one of the most polluted? Here are some freshwater facts about this amazing river.The Ganges River is approximately 1560 mi (2510 km) long and flows through India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. The average depth of the river is around 57 ft (17 m), with the maximum depth being 100 ft (33 m).Approximately 500 million people rely on the Ganges for their daily water needs. This includes drinking, cooking, bathing, and washing clothes. People living in the villages that are along the banks of the Ganges use the water daily, although it is very unclean.The Ganges also splits into many tributaries along the way, which provide water to different corners of Northern India. The most important of these are the Yamuna, Kosi, Mahananda, Son, Ghagra, Gomti and Ramganga rivers.The river is considered to be sacred by Hindus and is often referred to as Mother Ganga. Hindus believe that taking a dip in the river will cleanse them of their sins and purify their soul.The Ganges River is also home to a variety of wildlife, including turtles, dolphins, and fish. However, due to the pollution in the river, many of these species are now endangered.The river is considered to be extremely holy, and it was once considered that drinking the water of the Ganges or taking a dip in it would be enough to wash away your sins. However, due to the rising number of pollutants in the water, it is not considered safe to do so anymore. Consuming this water may affect your body with a number of water-borne diseases like cholera, dysentery, and typhoid. Swimming in it can cause rashes, itchiness, and other skin conditions that can be painful. So it’s better to admire the river from afar and refrain from taking a dip in it until measures are taken to restore it to its former glory.Mineral Properties Facts About The Ganges RiverThe river carries an abundance of fertile soil as it makes its way toward the Bay of Bengal. It continues to deposit this soil along its banks as it flows.The main types of soil it carries are extremely fertile and nutritious clay, loam, and silt. These are ideal for growing crops, which help provide a livelihood to the many villages of India. As India is heavily dependent on its agricultural sector, the fertile soil carried by the River Ganges is a blessing for farmers.The Ganges delta is formed by the deposition of these various soils onto the land, as the river joins the sea at the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh. In fact, the Sunderbans, home of the mangroves, thrive on this fertile sediment. Taking advantage of this gift from the Goddess Ganga herself, farmers have also created a number of rice plantations in the vicinity to sustain India’s enormous demand for rice. A great deal of this rice is also exported to other countries.Sacred Facts About The Ganges RiverEvery year, millions of Hindus make a pilgrimage to the Ganges to perform rituals and take part in festivals.In the cities of Haridwar, Varanasi, and Hrishikesh, priests perform a beautiful and moving ritual (puja) each evening called the Ganga Aarti. These three places are of extreme religious importance to the Hindu people.The priests light a number of lamps and carry them while they move in unison and chant songs, harnessing the power of the sacred waters into the flames of the lamps. Once the Aarti is over, the devotees take the blessings of the flame by cupping their hands over the flame and passing them over their heads.The Mandakini River, one of the headwater streams of the Ganges, is considered to be extremely sacred as well. It flows past both the Madhyamaheshwar and Kedarnath temples before it joins the Ganges on its journey toward the ocean.Origin And Myth Of The GangesThere are various myths about the origin of the Ganges River in Hindu mythology. The goddess Ganga, who is the personification of the holy river, is worshipped as a symbol of forgiveness and purity by Hindus.The River Ganga was thought to once flow through the heavens. King Bhagiratha, whose ancestors were cursed by the powerful sage Kapila, decided to hold a ceremony to wash away their sins so that their souls could finally ascend to heaven. However, the only way to do so was to wash them with the holy waters of the River Ganga. The king spent years in strict penance to call for a favor from the gods and was finally rewarded by the presence of Lord Shiva.Ganga was considered to be extremely flighty and a force to reckon with, so if her waters were to descend uncontrolled on the Earth, it would have wiped out entire kingdoms! In order to help the king, Lord Shiva decided to help the River Ganga descend slowly to Earth by wrapping her up in his matted locks. Hence, a gentle stream emerged from the top of Shiva’s head and flowed towards the land; beginning the holy River Ganga’s descent to Earth. The great river faced quite a few obstacles in her path, but finally reached the Ashram where the ashes of King Bhagiratha’s ancestors lay. She then washed them away and carried their souls to heaven.
Did you know that the Ganges is considered to be the most sacred river in all of India?
