Rising from the majestic Himalayas and flowing onward to Bangladesh, the holy river Ganga is the life-giving river, along with being the longest river in India. The river gushes its way to discharge into the Bay of Bengal. This river is the most sacred river in the subcontinent, and the people here worship it and utilize it in their everyday life. The fact that Hindu devotees take holy dips in it and use it for Asthi Visarjan and Pind Daan rituals makes it one of the most celebrated and holy rivers. From the mountains of the Himalayas, through the plains of Rishikesh, to the sacred town of Varanasi, and to its exit point at the Ganges delta in the region of Bengal, the river flows through majestically.
The main headstream source for the Ganga can be traced back to the Bhagirathi River flowing out of the Gangotri/Gaumukh Glacier in the state of Devbhoomi, Uttarakhand. This glacier sits majestically at an elevation of 3,892 meters above sea level, and the Bhagirathi River meets the Alaknanda River in Devprayag to form the Ganga River. This river leaves the mountains and enters the plains at the point where the holy twin towns of Rishikesh and Haridwar are located, forming the Indo-Gangetic Plains. As the holy river Ganga flows downstream, it changes its direction numerous times and is finally joined by several other tributaries, such as the Ramganga, Tamsa, and Gandaki rivers. Some of the important cities along the river are Allahabad, Varanasi, Kolkata, Chunar, Mirzapur, etc.
The river flows out of India and into Bangladesh, where the main branch here is known as the Padma River, which further goes downstream to join large rivers like Meghna and Jamuna. Before entering the Bay of Bengal, the river forms the world’s largest delta, known as the Sundarbans, which is a very high sediment-laden area that covers an area of 59,000 sq. km.
The Ganga River flows down the southern end of the grand majestic Himalayas on the Indian side and the Tibetan Autonomous Region in China. The northern Uttarakhand region witnesses the birth of five different headstreams, namely Bhagirathi, Alaknanda, Mandakini, Dhauliganga, and Pindar. The volume of the river Ganga increases because it receives a number of tributaries while simultaneously entering a heavy rainfall region, which causes flooding in some settlements on the banks of this river. From Haridwar and Rishikesh, the Ganga makes its way through Uttar Pradesh to Allahabad before entering Bihar, where its main tributaries include Gandak and Kosi. West Bengal is the final state the river enters before flowing into Bangladesh and joining the Mahananda River from the northern end.
As indicated in the historical writings of the 16th and 17th centuries, the area surrounding the Ganga and Yamuna was densely populated with thick green forests supporting a thriving culture of plants and animals like elephants, buffalo, bison, rhinoceros, lions, tigers, etc. These animals used to be hunted here. Most parts of the original naturally occurring vegetation have disappeared due to climate change and commercial crop cultivation for the ever-growing population of India. Only in the Sundarbans region can you explore and witness some of the vast varieties of animals like Royal Bengal tigers, crocodiles, marsh deer, etc.
Fish are also a largely occurring population in this river, especially in the delta region. The Ganges-Brahmaputra basin is also home to the famous Ganga dolphins, which had once been endangered and are now making a comeback. Exotic birds can also be seen along the banks of these rivers, such as kites, partridges, fowls, etc.
The entire length of the Ganges is worshipped by Hindus for being a holy and sacred source of life. Hindu devotees take holy dips in the waters of the Ganga, pay homage to their ancestors, and offer flowers and diyas to the holy river. People take the holy water in jars back home, and one of the most defining features of this water, or Ganga Jal, is that it never goes bad. An important Hindu pilgrimage called the Kanwar Yatra requires Kawariyas (the people carrying the Kawar) to take the empty jars and make their way to get Ganga Jal from Haridwar, Rishikesh, or even up to the source of Ganga at Gaumukh.
This shows the religious importance of the river in the lives of the people living alongside it. Its significance also lies in the belief that the river is sent from the heavenly realm to the earthly realm via the matted hair of Lord Shiva after King Bhagirath performed deep penance to please Goddess Ganga, making it even more important.
This mass Hindu pilgrimage takes place every 12 years in four different hubs of the Ganga River at Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. The Ardh Kumbh Mela also takes place every 6 years at Allahabad and Haridwar. The Maha Kumbh Mela, held at Allahabad, occurs once every 144 years, which is a huge event among the Hindu Indian population. The puja ritual involved in the Kumbh is taking a holy dip in the waters of the Ganga, while other activities include religious discussions, devotional chanting, mass feeding, etc. It is considered one of the most auspicious and sacred pilgrimages of India. This event is attended by lakhs of devotees who travel from all over India and international places to pay homage on this religious day.
Despite holding immense religious significance in the hearts and beliefs of the Indian population, sadly, it is also one of the most polluted rivers in the world. This is due to the rapid growth of industrial and human waste. India has a population of more than 1 billion people, of which 400 million live in the Ganges River basin. This means that all their waste and sewage gets dumped directly into the river. There is little to no regulation regarding industrial practices in India, so as the population grows, so will the industries. Large amounts of waste from tanneries, chemical plants, textile mills, slaughterhouses, etc., are being dumped into the river directly. Immediate action should be taken to avoid making the current situation worse.
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