The Holy River of India-River Ganges - 9512 Words

The Ganga, especially, is the river of India, beloved of her people, round which are intertwined her memories, her hopes and fears, her songs of triumph, her victories and her defeats. She has been a symbol of Indias age-long culture and civilization, ever changing, ever flowing, and yet ever the same Ganga. - Jawaharlal Nehru, First Prime Minister of India, born in Allahabad on the Ganges Ganges (Hindi Ganga), major river of the Indian subcontinent, formed in the southern ranges of the Himalaya, in northern Uttar Pradesh State, India. The Ganges is mainly in India, but also flows through Bangladesh before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. The river, about 2,510 km (1,560 mi) long, rises in a snowfield called THE GANGOTRI GLACIER,†¦show more content†¦The people of the Ganges basin are of mixed origin. In the west and centre of the region Turks, Mongols, Afghans, Persians and Arabs intermingled with the original Aryans, while in the east and south (the Bengal area) the people originate from a mixture of Tibetan, Burman and hill peoples.. Pilgrimage sites are particularly significant along the river. At the confluence of the Ganges and and the Tamuna tributory near Allahabad a bathing festival in January and February attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims. Other holy pilgrimage sites along the river include Haridwar, the place where the Ganges leaves the Him alayas, and Allahabad, where the mythical Saraswati river is believed to enter the Ganges. Water from the Ganges is used to cleanse any place or object for ritual purposes. Bathing in the river is believed to wash away ones sins. To bathe in the Ganga is a lifelong ambition for Hindus and they congregate in incredible numbers for the Sangam, Sagar Mela and Kumbh Mela festivals. It is believed that any water that mixes with even the smallest amount of Ganges water becomes holy with healing powers. Hindus also cast the ashes of their dead in the river in the belief that this will guide the souls of the deceased straight to paradise According to Hindus the river Ganga is sacred. It is worshipped by Hindus and personified as a goddess, who holds an important place in theShow MoreRelatedA Brief Note On Germ Free Water And The Ganges River1512 Words   |  7 PagesThe Ganges River is 1,560 miles long, this river runs through about 48 towns. the ganges river flows through China, India, Nepal and Bangladesh. The Ganges river basin is one of the most fertile and densely populated in the world and covers an area of 400 000 sq miles (1 000 000 sq km). Hindus respect the Ganges river with the holiest of regards. This holy river was named after the goddess Ganga, who is believed to be the daughter of the mountain god Himalaya. now, think about all the people in thoseRead MoreGlobal Water Crises Around The World And The Effects They Have On People Who Inhabit Those Regions1631 Words   |  7 Pagesissues of inadequate sanitation, untreated sewage in groundwater, and holy rivers being polluted due to a host of reasons. Th ese problems are occurring in both rural and urban areas, and are affecting more than 80% of the Indian population who depend on water polluted with untreated sewage, nitrate, and agricultural runoff for basic survival needs, (The Huffington Post). 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Individuals that follow this faith seek purification while during going throughRead MoreCritical Importance of Attending a Large-scale Religious Event 641 Words   |  3 Pagescycle, Hindus gather at the Ganges River for a religious festival. The festival is called the Kumbh Mela, and it draws crowds of over thirty million people at the banks of the Ganges. Everyone g athers in large numbers because they believe that long ago, four drops from the nectar of immortality spilled from a pitcher (kumbh) in the heavens while the Gods battled demons in a twelve-day fight. The drops of nectar fell in four locations around India near the Ganges River. During this twelve-year cycleRead MoreThe Question of Universal Suffering and Salvation as Presented in Shusaku Endo’s Deep River1696 Words   |  7 PagesEndo’s Deep River opens up an unsettling encounter with the spiritual vision of India described through the experience of five Japanese travelers from vastly different backgrounds each of whom faces a troubling personal crisis. By exploring the depth of the human need to understand ourselves and our purpose in life, Endo illuminates his appreciation of the workings of grace from a God present in the sufferings of humanity. Endo delves deep into the human condition through his characters that reflect