The Ganga or Ganges is a transboundary river in Asia. Its major part runs through India as well as some sections through Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, it is known as the Padma. The largest city along the banks of the river Ganges is Kanpur, an important industrial city.
A lot of people make their living through the water of the river. Therefore, river Ganges is a significant source of revenue for people who live there.
vyatra offers virtual tours of holy sites in India and around the world. It has also organized a virtual tour of the mystical Ganga river, which highlights the significance and Importance of Ganga River to us. This virtual tour is available on vyatra’s official website.
In addition, it is also the holiest river in Hinduism and is revered for its goddess Ganga. In Devprayag, the river’s primary stem starts at the confluence of Alaknanda (the source of the stream used in hydrology) and the Bhagirathi (source stream in Hindu mythology).
River Ganges’s Length and Route
The length of the river extends to 2,525km (1,569 miles), and the total area of the basin is 130,000 square kilometers located in the western Himalayas in Uttarakhand, India. Its point of origin is Gomukh, and is the point that is the end of the Gangotri Glacier.
River Ganges flows into the Bay of Bengal after covering the Gangetic Plain of North India to Bangladesh. Ganga is the biggest river in the country and is the 34th biggest river in the world.
This Ganga River basin is one of the largest in the world according to the catchment area which covers about 26% of the nation’s landmass.
Economical Assistance
It is said that the Ganga is the mainstay of numerous people. The soils of the river Ganges basin are extremely fertile, and they play an important role in the agricultural economy of both India and Bangladesh.
River Ganges, as well as its numerous tributaries, also are a perennial source of water. Rice oilseeds, wheat lentils, potatoes, and sugarcane are the main crops grown in this vast irrigated region.
Other plants, such as chillies and mustard, jute sesame and so on, are extensively grown in the vicinity of lakes and swamps located along the banks of the river.
Apart from tourism, agriculture is also an important economic source for areas in which rivers flow. Haridwar, Varanasi, and Prayagraj (Allahabad) are three cities which are extremely popular with Hinduism and draw thousands of tourists.
Rafting on the river Ganges is an exciting adventure that is extremely sought-after. In order to attract visitors, riverfront walkways are also constructed by many cities like Kolkata, Kanpur, and Patna.
The Kumbha Mela
In Hindu rituals it is thought that the water represents a “Tirtha,” which is a point of crossing between heavens and earth. It is believed that in these locations where wishes are made, they go straight to God and will always be fulfilled.
Kumbha Mela has been organized once every three years in various locations since the 7th century. The Ardh Kumbh is held at two locations, namely Haridwar in addition to Prayag (also known as Prayagraj (Allahabad).
Both are situated along the banks of the river Ganges and are considered to be extremely sacred places. The Hindu pilgrims go to the river to bathe in order to cleanse their souls and keep them healthy and gain good fortune.
The most popular attractions at Kumbh, apart from the gorgeous Ganga, include devotional music or religious assemblies along with Naga Sanyasis.
The Virtual Tour of India by vyatra includes surfing all of the country’s famous attractions. This is a virtual tour led by local tour guides. This tour is available from the convenience of your own home. For more information, go to vyatra’s official website.
Devprayag
Devprayag is a tiny district located in the Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. It is where Alaknanda River meets the Bhagirathi River as well as the Saraswati River (the mythical underground river). Then both rivers join Ganga. This is where the Sangam (meeting location) of both rivers is easy to identify due to the distinct chemical compositions of their waters. The word Devprayag refers to “Godly Confluence.” A few places to go in this area are Danda Nagaraj Temple, Chandrabadni Temple, Dhaneshwar Mahadev Temple, Raghunath Ji Temple, etc.
Pollution
The Ganga river is confronted with a serious issue of pollution, which poses an enormous risk to humans, animals’ health, and the environment in general. The water in the river meets the requirements of approximately 40% of the country in 11 states.
It is full of industrial waste and human waste. It is the fifth-most polluted water on the planet. It is also impacting the marine life of the river. There is a significant impact on the Ganges river dolphin.
River Ganges dolphins are a threatened species, with a total number of 2000. The primary reason for the decline in the population is the creation of hydroelectric dams and irrigation dams that stop dolphins from traveling between the rivers.
Ganges Soft-shell turtles are also battling heavy metal pollution. The contaminated water of the river could cause hepatitis, dysentery, diarrhea, and cholera. In addition, the clearing of huge areas of forest for the building of dams can be an issue. For instance, 1200 ha of forest was cleared to build the Kotli-Bhel dam in Devprayag.
Cleanup Efforts
In 2010, the Indian government launched a $4 billion cleanup campaign to completely stop the flow of untreated municipal sewage and industrial runoff in the 1,600-mile stretch of the Ganga by 2020. Several industrial facilities, including Tulsi and others, were relocated along the river by the Supreme Court of India. The river’s area between Gaumukh and Uttarkashi is declared an eco-sensitive zone by the government.
Namami Gange Programme
This Ganga Development Project was launched on July 10, 2014, with the name “Namami Gange”, which signifies obeisance and respect in honor of the river Ganges. Two hundred thirty-seven crores of money were put into the project to decrease pollution, protect as well as recreate the river.
Conclusion
Ganga is not only a goddess, but it is also a lifeline for Indians in different ways. Its transformation into a clean water river is very necessary, and it is the responsibility of every Indian. There are many ways that allow every Indian to contribute to cleaning Ganga. Hope this article on the river Ganges has given you a lot of insights; if you have any queries in your mind, you can comment below in the comment section.
Also, Read 9 Least Known Benefits of Traveling To a Tourist Place.