Ganga River - The Sacred Lifeline of India

Introduction

The Ganga, flowing 2,525 km from the Gangotri glacier in Uttarakhand to the Bay of Bengal, is India's most sacred river. Over 400 million people live in its basin, making it one of the most populated river basins in the world.

Cultural Significance

Hindus consider the Ganga a goddess — Ganga Mata. Bathing in her waters is believed to cleanse sins. Cities like Varanasi, Haridwar, Allahabad and Rishikesh sit on her banks and host millions of pilgrims annually.

Ecology

The river supports the endangered Ganges river dolphin, gharials, and over 140 fish species. The Ganga basin covers 26% of India's landmass and supports 43% of its population.

Conservation

The Namami Gange programme, launched in 2014 with Rs 20,000 crore, aims to clean and rejuvenate the river through sewage treatment, afforestation, and industrial effluent control.