Ganga (Ganges), Devnagari: गंगा Gaṅgā

Maa (Mother) Ganga is one of the major rivers of the Indian subcontinent, flowing east through the Plains of northern India into Bangladesh. The 2,510 km (1,560 mi) river rises in the western Himalayas in the Uttarakhand state of India, and drains into the Sunderbans delta in the Bay of Bengal

It has long been considered a holy river by Hindus and worshiped as the goddess Ganga in Hinduism. It has also been important historically: many former provincial or imperial capitals (such as Patliputra, Kannauj, Kashi, Allahabad, Murshidabad, and Calcutta) have been located on its banks

During the early Vedic Ages, the Sindhu and the Sarasvati Rivers were the major rivers, not Ganga. But the later three Vedas seem to give much more importance to the Ganges, as shown by its numerous references

Possibly the first Westerner to mention the Ganges was Megasthenes. He did so

In Rome's Piazza Navona, a famous sculpture, Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (fountain of the four rivers) designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini was built in 1651. It symbolizes four of the world's great rivers (the Ganges, the Nile, the Danube, and the Río de la Plata), representing the four continents known at the time

Situated on the banks of River Ganges, Varanasi is considered by some to be the most holy city in Hinduism. The Ganges is mentioned in the Rig-Veda, the earliest of the Hindu scriptures. It appears in the Nadistuti sukta (Rig Veda 10.75), which lists the rivers from east to west. In RV 6.45.31, the word Ganga is also mentioned, but it is not clear whether this reference is to the river. Also, people scatter ashes of loved ones here.

According to Hindu religion a very famous king Bhagiratha did Tapasya for many years constantly to bring the river Ganga, then residing in the Heavens, down on the Earth to find salvation for his ancestors, who were cursed by a seer Kapila Rishi. Therefore, Ganga descended to the Earth through the lock of hair (Jata) of god Shiva to make whole earth pious, fertile and wash out the sins of humans. For Hindus in India, the Ganga is not just a river but a mother, a goddess, a tradition, a culture and much more.

Some Hindus also believe life is incomplete without bathing in the Ganges at least once in one's lifetime. Many Hindu families keep a vial of water from the Ganges in their house. This is done because it is prestigious to have water of the Holy Ganga in the house, and also so that if someone is dying, that person will be able to drink its water. Many Hindus believe that the water from the Ganga can cleanse a person's soul of all past sins, and that it can also cure the ill. The ancient scriptures mention that the water of Ganges carries the blessings of Lord Vishnu's feet; hence Mother Ganges is also known as Vishnupadi, which means "Emanating from the Lotus feet of Supreme Lord Sri Vishnu."

Ganga Jaal (Jal) The Holy waters of Ganga

The holy water of River Ganga is deeply associated with the lives of every Indian whether living in India or outside. You shall find the quintessential “Ganga Jal Jar” in every household in India, the last thing a good Hindu reqests at his/her deathbed is a few drops of this holy Ganga water – the Ganga Jall (Jal). Surprisingly though she is considered holy throughout her course; the waters at Haridwar, especially at the Hari – ki – Paudi and surrounding Ghats are considered the real holy Ganga Jal

The river Ganga is known as the bridge between the earth and Heaven and anyone who bathes in the river will be released from the cycle of rebirths. The religious texts like Ramayana, Vedas and Puranas etc, show the importance of Ganga Jal in everyone’s life. The water from Ganga has recursive properties that any water mixed with Ganga water becomes the Ganga water and inherits the quality of healing and other holy properties

Ganga water has certain chemical qualities, many chemical & scientific tests have been carried out with Ganga water and now it has been scientifically proved that Ganga water is enriched with some extraordinary properties. Indian environmental engineers confirmed that Ganga water has a super self-cleaning property. An unknown factor called the ‘Mystery Factor’, which gives this river an unusual ability to retain dissolved oxygen from the atmosphere. The presence of Bacteriophages which gives it the anti-bacterial nature, this is perhaps one of the many reasons Ganga Jal can be stored fresh for many years

The Ganges, above all is the river of India, which has held India's heart captive and drawn uncounted millions to her banks since the dawn of history. The story of the Ganges, from her source to the sea, from old times to new, is the story of India's civilization and culture, of the rise and fall of empires, of great and proud cities, of adventures of man