Around 70 million Hindus from around the world participated in the most recent Kumbh Mela at the Holy city of Prayaga (also known as Allahabad). Kumbh Mela is the largest religious gathering on Earth for Hindu peoples. In this brief series, we will explore the history of the Melas. Some of the most important Hindu festivals and religious congregations are celebrated on the banks of the river Ganga, such as the Kumbh mela or the Kumbh fair and the chhat puja.
Hence the Ganges is also known as Visnupadi. The ancient scriptures mention that the water of Mother Ganges carries the blessings of the Lord’s feet. Many believe that the water from the Ganga can cleanse a person’s soul of all past sins, and that it can also cure the sick. This is done because it is auspicious to have water of the Holy Ganga in the house, and also if someone is dying, that person will be able to drink its water. In most Hindu families, a vial of water from the Ganga is kept in every house. It is believed that drinking water from the Ganga with one’s last breath will liberate the soul.
This city is an important place of worship as well as a cremation ground.Īfter making the pilgrimage to Kashi, people carry from the Ganges sacred water that is sealed in copper pots. Perhaps the most important sacred city on the banks of the river Ganga is Varanasi or Banaras, which has hundreds of temples along the banks of the Ganga that are often flooded during the rains. Many sacred places lie along the banks of the river Ganga, including Haridwar and Kashi. People travel from distant places to immerse the ashes of their kin in the waters of the Ganga this immersion also is believed to help the deceased living entity gain liberation. Many people believe that this will come from bathing in Ganga at any time. Hindu belief holds that bathing in the river on certain occasions causes the alleviation of karmic burden and helps attain salvation. The town has many temples along the banks of the Ganges. Varanasi is closely associated with Ganges. The devout in India believe life is incomplete without bathing in the Mother Ganga at least once in their lifetime. In fact, Ganga is a major character in the Mahabharat, as she is the mother of Bhisma. In the Mahabharat also this story is mentioned. This is why Ganga is also known as Bhagirathi.
Then prince Bhagirath worshipped Ganga, imploring her to descend on earth. But the later three Vedas seem to give much more importance to the Ganga, as shown by its numerous references.Īccording to the Puranas, Goddess Ganga used to exist only on the heavenly planets. In RV 1.116.18-19, the Jahnavi and the Gangetic dolphin occur in two adjacent verses.ĭuring the early vedic Ages, the Indus and the Saraswati were the major rivers, not the Ganga. This verse could possibly refer to the Ganga. RV 3.58.6 says that “your ancient home, your auspicious friendship, O Heroes, your wealth is on the banks of the Jahnavi (JahnAvyAm)”.
In RV 6.45.31, the word Ganga is also mentioned, but it is not clear if the reference is to the river. The Ganga is mentioned in the Rig-Ved, the earliest of Hindu scriptures, in the Nadistuti (Rig Veda 10.75), which lists the rivers from east to west. The area features prominently in today’s global warming discussions, as a rise in sea level could have a devastating effect on this massive population. Due to this incredible concentration of population, pollution and the destruction of habitats is a matter of serious concern. Indeed, about one in every 12 people on earth (8.5% of world population) live in its catchments area. Along with the Yamuna River, it forms a large and fertile basin known as the Gangetic plains, stretching across north India and Bangladesh, supporting one of the highest densities of human population in the world. The total length of the river is about 2,510 km (1,557 miles). The River Ganga has a long history of reverence in India and is worshipped by Hindus as an embodiment of the transcendental personality, Ganga Ma.
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