The Pious Ganga

Through the ages, Ganga has been revered by million of Indians as the sacred river and is considered as the Goddess. Ganga or Ganges has been the symbol of India's age long tradition and culture. It holds the special pace in the heart of the Hindus and has been the most important river in the Indian subcontinent. Holiest of all Indian rivers, Ganga flows some 1550 miles and sustains the life of millions of people. In short , it is the lifeline of India.

The source of the Ganga River is the Gangotri glacier, which is also known as the Gaumukh. It is called as the Gaumukh because the shape of the ice is like the mouth of the cow. This glacier is located at the height of 4255 meter above the sea level and is around 24 km in length and 7 km in width. At the Gangotri Glacier, the river is known as the Bhagirathi. From Bhagirathi it flows downwards and joins the river Alaknanda, and from there it later on becomes Ganga.

Ganga has been repeatedly invoked many times in the two great Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. Symbolically, it is represented on the head of the Lord Shiva. Flowing from his entangled hair and falling on earth, signifies that Lord Shiva destroys physical impurities and bestows peace on the devotees.

Gangotri has been considered as one of the most sacred religious spot in India. Every day lakh of tourists
from far and wide throng to the ghats of Ganga to take a dip in its religious water. Ganga ghats finds the special mention in the travel guide to India. Inspite of being so much polluted these days, it's respect and importance has not been reduced from the mind of the devotees.

Along with the Ganga river the significance of Gangotri temple is also very high. People on the special tour to the Gangotri Glacier, do not forget to make a visit to this temple. This temple was built in the 18th century by a Gurkha commander named Amar Singh Thapa.

Use of the Ganga jal is considered as the highly beneficial while performing the yagas and puja. It also holds the medicinal properties. It has been proved that that the water collected from Ganga is pure and does not get contaminated even though it is kept for years. According to the popular belief, one who baths in the Ganga water, in accordance with the traditional rites and ceremonies, attains purity and peace and is freed from all the sins of life.

Aparana Chauhan