Page 169 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

INTRODUCING CENTR AL INDIA  167

The Myth of the Ganges holds that the celestial River
Ganga was brought to earth by sage Bhagiratha, so that he
could sprinkle her holy water on the ashes of his ancestors,
who were struck down by Lord Vishnu for their
wickedness. The river water would ensure salvation for
their souls. When the Ganga descended, Lord Shiva broke
her enormous force by winding her through his hair, to
save the earth from being destroyed in a deluge. This myth
is often depicted in paintings and sculptures.

Varanasi (see pp206–212) is
regarded by Hindus as the
holiest spot on this holiest
of rivers. Around 90 ghats
Gaumukh line the river front, where the
• living come to be purified
UTTARAKHAND by the waters of the Ganges,
Bhagirathi Ala knanda and the dead are brought
to attain moksha (release
Rishikesh • • Devprayag from the endless cycle
• Haridwar of death and rebirth).
Fertile fields, enriched by alluvial
soil, can be seen all along the Indo-
Gangetic Plains. These fields of
wheat and mustard are in Bihar.

Ganges
Kanwarias are devotees of Shiva who make
an arduous annual journey every August
UTTAR PRADESH (shravan), to the Ganges on foot, carrying
back the river’s sacred water in brightly
decorated pots, to their temples at home.
Kanpur Gandak Patna (see pp218–19) is always busy
•
with river traffic as the Ganges is wide
Yamuna
Ghaghara
and easily navigable here.
Barges laden with jute fibre
Patna are a common sight around
• Munger the Gangetic Delta in Bengal.
Allahabad • •
•
Varanasi Son BIHAR Gaur
•
BANGLADESH
JHARKHAND
Nabadwip •
WEST Ganga Sagar
The otter, about BENGAL Hooghly Mela is a
70 cm (28 in) colourful festival
long, has a brown • (see p299), held
in Jan uary at
waterproof coat, Kolkata Sagar Island,
webbed paws and close to where
stiff whiskers. This the river enters
playful creature the sea.
can often be seen Sagar Ganges Delta
gambolling on the Island Bay of Bengal
banks of the river.

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