Why is the Ganges River special?

Why is the Ganges River special?

Religious Significance and Mythology To Hindus, the Ganges River is the most sacred body of water in the world with sacred pilgrimage sites and cities along its banks. The river itself is also the embodiment of the goddess Ganga, daughter of Himalaya, the mountain god.

Why is the Ganges River considered important in Indian society?

The Ganges River is extremely important to the people of India as most of the people living on its banks use it for daily needs such as bathing and fishing. It is also significant to Hindus, as they consider it their most sacred river.

Why do pilgrims visit the Ganges?

Hindu people believe the river to be sacred and holy, and many make the pilgrimage to the city of Varanasi to wash away their sins in the water. Being of such importance, millions of people visit the Ganges, making it a powerful hub of religious activity, culture and history.

How does the Ganges River affect India’s economy?

The cultivated area of the Ganges valley in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar benefits from a system of irrigation canals that has increased the production of such cash crops as sugarcane, cotton, and oilseeds. The older canals are mainly in the Ganges-Yamuna Doab (doab meaning “land between two rivers”).

What kind of river is Ganga?

The Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers unite at Devaprayag to form the main stream known as the Ganga, which cuts southwestward through the Siwalik Range (Outer Himalayas) at the northern edge of the Indo-Gangetic Plain to emerge from the mountains at Rishikesh.

What do the people in India call the Ganges River?

Its rice and other crops feed hundreds of millions of people in India and in Bangladesh, where the river is also known as the Padma. The Ganges is the holiest river in Hinduism. Hindus venerate it as a “life-giving river,” calling it Mother Ganges. They believe that bathing in its waters washes away sin.

What does Ganga symbolizes?

The River Ganges (also referred to as Ganga) is a symbol of faith, hope, culture and sanity, as well as a source of livelihood for millions since time immemorial. She is the centre of social and religious tradition in the Indian sub-continent and particularly sacred in Hinduism.

What is ironic about river Ganga?

The river water of Ganga is used for irrigation, transportation and fishing. The irony here is that in spite of being the most worshipped river, it is also the dirtiest one. It carries metals thrown out by tanneries, waste produced by industries and urban waste from different cities.

Why is the Ganges river called the Mother Ganga?

As a nod to the goddess, the Ganges is often referred to as Ma Ganga, or Mother Ganga. Because of the purifying nature of the river, Hindus believe that any rituals performed at the banks of the Ganges or in its water will bring fortune and wash away impurity. The waters of the Ganges are called Gangaajal, meaning literally “water of the Ganges”.

Why is the Ganges considered sacred to Hindus?

Why the Ganges Is Considered Sacred 1 A Sacred Icon. For Hindus, the River Ganges is sacred and revered, embodied by the goddess Ganga. 2 Mythological Origins of the River. 3 Festivals along the Ganges. 4 Dying by the Ganges. 5 Spiritually Pure but Ecologically Dangerous. 6 Sources.

What are the causes of pollution of the Ganges?

Pollution of the Ganges is caused by both human and industrial waste due to India’s rapid growth as well as religious events. India currently has a population of over one billion people and 400 million of them live in the Ganges River basin.

How many people live in the Ganges River basin?

More than four hundred million people in India live in the area that feeds the river, known as the Ganges River Basin. A river basin is a region that is drained by a river, such as the Ganges, and any of its tributaries.