In Hindu mythology, the Ganges is a goddess who has become the embodiment of a sacred river that descended to earth. The heavenly river has turned into the earthly Ganges, on whose banks the lives of almost half a billion Hindus pass. The full-flowing, healing and cleansing of sins, the sacred river of India is a place of worship and a cherished goal of pilgrimage for every inhabitant of the planet who professes Hinduism.
A bit of geography
In atlases and on geographical maps, the river is called the Ganges:
- The Ganges originates in the Himalayas at an altitude of 449 meters above sea level near the Gangotri glacier.
- The length of the sacred river of India is 2,700 km.
- The Ganges flows into the Bay of Bengal and its delta is almost entirely in Bangladesh.
- The river ranks third in the world in terms of water flow. Its basin area exceeds a million square kilometers.
On the banks of the Ganges in the 16th-17th centuries, dense jungles grew and there were elephants and rhinos, lions and tigers. Human economic activity and the rapid growth of the Indian population forced the representatives of the fauna to migrate to remote areas. Today, wild animals can be found only in the area of the mouth of the Ganges near the Bay of Bengal.
Splendor and poverty of Varanasi
The valley of the sacred river of India is one of the most densely populated places on our planet. Huge cities were built on its banks - Rishikesh and Calcutta, Chkhapra and Barisal. But the most picturesque and tourist place on the banks of the Ganges can be safely called Varanasi. This city for the Hindus has the same meaning as for the Catholics - the Vatican. Hindus believe that Varanasi is the center of the earth, and historians claim that this city is one of the oldest on the planet and the oldest in India.
Founded by the god Shiva, Varanasi is the main destination of Indian pilgrims. It stretches like an amphitheater on the left bank of the river and consists of a labyrinth of dark and narrow streets. But it is not the architectural sights that attract thousands of tourists to Varanasi. Here, on the banks of the sacred river of India, it is customary to die and be cremated.
The embankments of the Ganges in Varanasi are stone steps and are called ghats. Cremation grounds are built on them, where the fire never goes out.
Hindus perform a sacred ritual of ablution in the waters of the Ganges. Here they bathe cows and wash children, brush their teeth and wash clothes, send the dead and memorial candles through the water and firmly believe that the river will remove all sins and heal all ailments.
