Mother Ganga...

"GANGA"

• Mythological Origins of the River

There are many renditions of the River Ganges’ mythical origins, owing in part to the oral tradition of India and Bangladesh. It is said that the river gave life to the people, and, in turn, people gave life to the river. The name of Ganga appears only twice in theRig Veda, an early sacred Hindu text, and it was only later that Ganga assumed great importance as the goddess Ganga.

One myth, according to theVishnu Purana, an ancient Hindu text, illustrates how theLord Vishnupierced a hole in the universe with his toe, allowing goddess Ganga to flow over his feet into heaven and down to earth as the waters of the Ganges. Because she came into contact with Vishnu’s feet, Ganga is also known asVishnupadi, meaning a descent from Vishnu’slotusfeet.

Another myth details how Ganga was intent on wreaking havoc on the earth with her descent as a raging river seeking revenge. In order to prevent the chaos,Lord Shivacaught Ganga in the tangles of his hair, releasing her in the streams that became the source for the River Ganges. Another version of this same story tells how it was Ganga herself who was persuaded to nurture the land and the people below the Himalayas, and she asked Lord Shiva to protect the land from the force of her fall by catching her in his hair.

Though the myths and legends of the River Ganges are numerous, the same reverence and spiritual connection is shared among the populations that live along the banks of the river.

Ganga is heart of Indians.

• Festivals Along Maa Ganga

There are 100 of festivls are hosted on the banks of Ganga every year.

On the 10th of the month ofJyestha(falling between the end of May and the beginning of June on theGregorian calendar), the Ganga Dussehra celebrates the descent of the sacred river to earth from heaven. On this day, a dip in the holy river while invoking the Goddess is said to purify sins and wipe away physical ailments.

The Kumbh Mela, another sacred ritual, is a Hindu festival during which pilgrims to the Ganges bathe themselves in the sacred waters. The festival occurs in the same place only every 12 years, though a Kumbh Mela celebration can be found annually somewhere along the river. It is considered to be the world’s largest peaceful gathering and is featured on UNESCO’s list ofIntangible Cultural Heritage.

KUMBAH MELA

• Dying by the Ganges

It is believed that a dead human's soul finds salvation (moksha), when cremated here.

The land over which the Ganges flows is regarded as hallowed ground, and it is believed that the holy waters of the river will purify the soul and lead to a better reincarnation or liberation of the soul from the cycle of life and death. Because of these strong beliefs, it is common for Hindus to spread cremated ashes of dead loved ones, allowing the sacred water to direct the soul of the departed.

Ghats, or flights of stairs leading to a river, along the banks of the Ganges are known for being holy Hindu funeral destinations. Most notably are theGhats of Varanasiin Uttar Pradesh and the Ghats of Haridwar in Uttarakhand.

• Spiritually Pure but Ecologically Dangerous

Though the sacred waters are linked to spiritual purity, the Ganges is one of the most polluted rivers in the world. Nearly80 percentof the sewage dumped into the river is untreated, and the amount of human fecal matter is more than300 timesthe limit set by India’s Central Pollution Control Board. This is in addition to the toxic waste caused by dumping of insecticides, pesticides, and metals, and industrial pollutants.

These dangerous levels of pollution do little to deter religious practice from the sacred river. Hindus believe drinking water from the Ganges brings fortune, while immersing oneself or one’s belongings brings purity. Those that practice these rituals may become spiritually clean, but the pollution of the water afflicts thousand with diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, and even typhoid each year.

In 2014, the government of India pledged to spend nearly $3 billion on a three-year clean-up project, though as of 2019, the project had not yet begun.