What is the importance of the Ganges River in Hinduism?

Answer 1

the river ganges is supposedly the holiest of the "holy trinity" of rivers in India.(the indus,the brahmaputra and the ganges..).. and yes even though the banks of the river are completely filled with piles of garbage and there are hundreds of mutilated bodies floating in it... it is still considered to be extremely pure and it is a longheld Hindu tradition of washing away all of your life sins by dipping your self in the holy ganges.... that is if you are willing to take the risk

Answer 2

the reason that the ganges river is so important to the Hindu religion is because it is believed to be lord shiva's hair.

Besides irrigation, food and tourism, "It has long been considered a holy river by Hindus and worshiped as the goddess Ganga in Hinduism."

"For Hindus in India, the Ganga is not just a river but a mother, a goddess, a tradition, a culture and much more. Some Hindus also believe life is incomplete without bathing in the Ganga at least once in one's lifetime. Many Hindu families keep a vial of water from the Ganga in their house. This is done because it is prestigious to have water of the Holy Ganga in the house, and also so that if someone is dying, that person will be able to drink its water. Many Hindus believe that the water from the Ganga can cleanse a person's soul of all past sins, and that it can also cure the ill. (But actually it just makes things worse.) The ancient scriptures mention that the water of Ganges carries the blessings of Lord Vishnu's feet; hence Mother Ganges is also known as Vishnupadi, which means "Emanating from the Lotus feet of Supreme Lord Sri Vishnu."

The Ganges Basin with its fertile soil is instrumental to the agricultural economies of India and Bangladesh. The Ganges and its tributaries provide a perennial source of irrigation to a large area. Chief crops cultivated in the area include rice, sugarcane, lentils, oil seeds, potatoes, and wheat. Along the banks of the river, the presence of swamps and lakes provide a rich growing area for crops such as legumes, chillies, mustard, sesame, sugarcane, and jute. There are also many fishing opportunities to many along the river, though it remains highly polluted.

Tourism is another related activity. Three towns holy to Hinduism - Haridwar, Allahabad, and Varanasi - attract thousands of pilgrims to its waters. Thousands of Hindu pilgrims arrive at these three towns to take a dip in the Ganges, which is believed to cleanse oneself of sins and help attain salvation. The rapids of the Ganges also are popular for river rafting, attracting hundreds of adventure seekers in the summer months.

(Unfortunately), The river waters start getting polluted right at the source. The commercial exploitation of the river has risen in proportion to the rise of population. Gangotri and Uttarkashi are good examples. Gangotri had only a few huts of Sadu's until the 1970s and the population of Uttrakashi has swelled in recent years. As it flows through highly populous areas the Ganges collects large amounts of human pollutants, e.g., Schistosoma mansoni and faecal coliforms, and drinking and bathing in its waters therefore carries a high risk of infection. While proposals have been made for re mediating this condition, little progress has been achieved.

The Ganges river is an important cultural aspect to the Hindu population, however researches have found that the Ganges water is not clean and actually contains many harmful bacteria. The issue is that many people are becoming sick by drinking and using the water from the Ganges but they will not stop using the water because they believe it is sacred water. Doctors who are culturally sensitive, being aware of the culture surrounding the Ganges will have a more sensitive and understanding approach when dealing with patients who are sick due to the water from the Ganges river."

Answer 3

Besides irrigation, food and tourism, "It has long been considered a holy river by Hindus and worshiped as the goddess Ganga in Hinduism."

"For Hindus in India, the Ganga is not just a river but a mother, a goddess, a tradition, a culture and much more. Some Hindus also believe life is incomplete without bathing in the Ganga at least once in one's lifetime. Many Hindu families keep a vial of water from the Ganga in their house. This is done because it is prestigious to have water of the Holy Ganga in the house, and also so that if someone is dying, that person will be able to drink its water. Many Hindus believe that the water from the Ganga can cleanse a person's soul of all past sins, and that it can also cure the ill.

The 2,525 km (1,569 mi) river rises in the western Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, and flows south and east through the Genetic Plain of North India into Bangladesh, where it empties into the Bay of Bengal. It is the longest river of India and is the second greatest river in the world by water discharge.[4] The Ganges basin is the most heavily populated river basin in the world, with over 400 million people and a population density of about 1,000 inhabitants per square mile (390 /km2).

Answer 4

the nestiest river ever on earth, floating death body, people taking shower, brushing their stinky teeth, and drinking too.

Answer 5

The Ganges is important to India as they belive it to be holy and to have great healing powers.