Which river is particularly sacred to hindus

A vast stretch of the Yamuna river is covered with white toxic foam, caused in part by pollutants discharged from industries ringing New Delhi. Still, on Wednesday, hundreds of Hindu devotees stood knee-deep in its frothy, noxious waters, sometimes even immersing themselves for a customary dip to mark the festival of Chhath Puja. The 1,km mile Yamuna is one of the holiest rivers for Hindus.

It is also among the most polluted in the world. Yet, devotees flock to it every year during the festival, which is dedicated to the solar deity and is observed with ritual bathing. Politics Covid U. News World Opinion Business. Share this —. Follow NBC News. Hindu faithful in India wade into river topped with toxic foam Nov.

The waters of the Ganges are called Gangaajal , meaning literally "water of the Ganges". The Puranas— ancient Hindu scriptures—say that the sight, the name, and the touch of the Ganges cleanses one of all sins and that taking a dip in the sacred river bestows heavenly blessings. It is said that the river gave life to the people, and, in turn, people gave life to the river. The name of Ganga appears only twice in the Rig Veda , an early sacred Hindu text, and it was only later that Ganga assumed great importance as the goddess Ganga.

One myth, according to the Vishnu Purana , an ancient Hindu text, illustrates how the Lord Vishnu pierced a hole in the universe with his toe, allowing goddess Ganga to flow over his feet into heaven and down to earth as the waters of the Ganges.

Another myth details how Ganga was intent on wreaking havoc on the earth with her descent as a raging river seeking revenge. In order to prevent the chaos, Lord Shiva caught Ganga in the tangles of his hair, releasing her in the streams that became the source for the River Ganges.

Another version of this same story tells how it was Ganga herself who was persuaded to nurture the land and the people below the Himalayas, and she asked Lord Shiva to protect the land from the force of her fall by catching her in his hair.

Though the myths and legends of the River Ganges are numerous, the same reverence and spiritual connection is shared among the populations that live along the banks of the river.

The banks of the River Ganges host hundreds of Hindu festivals and celebrations each year. For example, on the 10th of the month of Jyestha falling between the end of May and the beginning of June on the Gregorian calendar , the Ganga Dussehra celebrates the descent of the sacred river to earth from heaven. On this day, a dip in the holy river while invoking the Goddess is said to purify sins and wipe away physical ailments. The Kumbh Mela, another sacred ritual, is a Hindu festival during which pilgrims to the Ganges bathe themselves in the sacred waters.

According to the Press Trust of India, 15 boats have been deployed by the government to remove the foam, but experts fear it has already caused significant damage. That has been the case for years now. India's polluted rivers. For decades, sections of the Yamuna have been plagued by the dumping of toxic chemicals and untreated sewage.