Course of the Ganga

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The Ganga River, also known as the Ganges, is the longest river in India. Stretching over 2,525 kilometers (1,569 miles), the Ganga holds immense geographical, cultural, and spiritual significance for the country. It originates from the Gangotri Glacier in the Indian state of Uttarakhand at a height of about 4,100 meters (13,500 feet) in the Himalayas and flows through northern India before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.

It originates as the Bhagirathi, which, after being India Phone Number List joined by the Alaknanda at Devprayag in Uttarakhand, takes the name Ganga. Further downstream, the Ganges flows through Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. The river passes many important cities along its course: Rishikesh, Haridwar, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, and Kolkata. The Ganges branches into distributaries in West Bengal; the chief distributary is the Hooghly River.



Tributaries
The Ganga has a huge network of tributaries; major rivers that fall in this category include:

Yamuna: Its largest tributary, meets the Ganga at Prayagraj (Triveni Sangam).
Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi, and Son: Contribute immensely to its volume.
Cultural and Religious Importance
In Hinduism, the Ganga is considered a very sacred river. It has been personified as a goddess in Hindu mythology and finds a place in almost all religious texts. The Hindus believe that a dip in the river washes away sins and leads to salvation. Various religious rituals, festivals, and cremation continue to be performed along its banks, especially in Varanasi, which is one of the holiest cities according to Hinduism.

Economic and Ecological Role
It has been estimated that about 400 million people USA Phone number Database live in the Ganga basin, perhaps one of the most densely inhabited river basins in the world. In the basin area, the water is used for agricultural, drinking, and industrial purposes. However, the water has been polluted, extracted more than required, and its ecology is being harmed. The Namami Gange Programme is an initiative toward rejuvenation and cleaning.

Hence, the Ganga River happens to be the longest in India and, at the same time, an identified part of this country by incorporating aspects related to natural beauty, cultural heritage, and economic usefulness.