Holy River Ganges
The Ganges is a trans-boundary river of India. The 2,525 km river flows in the western Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand and flows south and east through the Gangetic Plain of North India.
The Ganges is the holiest river for Hindus and also a lifeline for millions of Indians who live along its course and depend on it for their daily needs. It is worshiped in Hinduism as Goddess Ganga. It has also been historically important: many pre-provincial or imperial capitals (such as Patliputra, Kannauj, Kara, Kashi, Allahabad, Murshidabad, Kolkata, and Baharampur) have been located on its banks.
The Ganges ranks among the top five most polluted rivers of the world with fecal coliform levels in the river near Varanasi more than a hundred times the official Indian government limits.
The Ganges & Its Ghats
Varanasi or Kashi is older than traditions. Varanasi presents a unique combination of physical, spiritual, and supernatural elements. According to Hindu mythology, Varanasi liberates the soul from the human body to the ultimate. It is the Ganges Ghat of Varanasi which complements the concept of divinity. The Ganges ghats are probably the holiest places in Varanasi. The Ganga Ghats in Varanasi are full of pilgrims who go from place to place to take a dip in the holy Ganges, which is believed to remove one from all sins.
Art & Culture of Varanasi
The art and culture of Varanasi are unique. It is the rich cultural tradition of Varanasi that makes it the cultural capital of India. A combination of archeology, mythology, geography, art and history makes Varanasi a major center of Indian culture. Though Varanasi is associated mainly with Hinduism and Buddhism, one can find a glimpse of many religious beliefs, types of worship and religious institutions at Varanasi. It is wonderful to see the methods of primitive worship in Varanasi. Varanasi presents a complete museum of Indian.