Ganges River

From Encyclopediak

Ganges, Can jeez, a river of Hindustan, one of the great rivers of Asia. It rises in the Himalaya Mountains, being formed by the Bhagirathi and the Alak-nanda rivers, and flows in a south and southeastward direction, emptying into the Bay of Bengal by numerous mouths, forming a delta about 283 m. long. Its total length is 1557 m., and its basin, lying between the Himalaya and the Vindhya mountain ranges, occupies 390,000 sq. m. of the most fertile territory in the world. The chief tributaries are the Jahnavi, Bhagirathi, Alaknanda, Ramganga, Jumna, Son, Gumti, Groga, Gandak and Kusi. New channels are constantly formed, and its course can never be accurately described. At Benares the floods increase its width at certain seasons to 3000 ft. The flat and rolling surface of Bengal is often overflowed in July to an extent of 100 m. in diameter. On the banks of the river and its branches are the cities, Calcutta, Cawnpore, Behar, Benares, Murshida-bad, Patna, Allahabad and Farukhabad. Commercially, it is of great importance. It is the sacred river of the Hindus, and in their religions it is described as the entrance to Paradise, the holiest of rivers and the cleanser of all sins. The faithful bathe in its waters on stipulated days and conscientiously distribute alms, and its waters are transported throughout India to be used in religious rites.