Random Super Interesting Traditions & Practices That Happen On The Ganges (6 items)

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  (#2) The Largest Religious Gathering in the World Takes Place on Its Banks

  Considered the largest religious gathering in the world (nearly 24 million people attended in 2001), Kumbh Mela is a Hindu spiritual meeting that takes place once every twelve years over four different locations, with two being on the Ganges river: Haridwar, in Western India, and the confluence of the Yamuna, Ganges, and Saraswati rivers. 

  So what is Kumbh Mela? According to Hindu mythology, while transporting Amrit (the drink of immortality), the mythical bird Garuda dropped some of the mystical liquid in each of the four places where the Kumbh Mela occurs. Thus, they have become sites of spiritual celebration, places where millions from around the world gather to take part in the festival. 

  The act of bathing in the Ganges' waters is the culmination of the ceremony. Participants cleanse themselves of mind and soul in a united celebration of religion, as well as the astrological components that go along with it. 
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  (#5) Yoga Is Practiced on Its Banks to Help Achieve Moksha

  One of the cornerstones of the Hindu religion is yoga, the ancient physical and spiritual practice to achieve a state of peace. While yoga can certainly be performed anywhere, some have claimed that the close proximity to one of the most spiritual bodies of water in the world has elevated their experience even further and brought them closer to moksha, or freedom from the cycle of rebirth. The city of Rishikesh, in particular, is known for its abundance of yoga centers.

  While many perform yoga on the ghats by the river, there are several schools and centers located along its banks to help practitioners of this age-old discipline connect with Ganga on a level they couldn't achieve at home.
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  (#4) Hindus Bathe in the River to Celebrate Ganga

  There are several stories regarding the origin of the Hindu goddess Ganga, but the main one involves her descending to Earth in order to cleanse mankind's sins. As a result, Hindus take to the waters of the Ganges to celebrate her arrival during a festival called the Ganga Dussehra. The date of the festival varies according to the Hindu calendar, but it generally takes place each year in the spring. 

  On this day, Hindus pray at the ghats (steps leading to the Ganges), bathe in the waters below, and occasionally take small bottles of the water back to their home to worship in private.
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  (#6) Oil Lamps Line Its Shores During Dev Deepavali

  Each year in early winter, Dev Deepavali is celebrated in the holy city of Varanasi. The festival celebrates the day the gods descend to Earth and bathe in the Ganges. To celebrate, millions of diyas, or clay oil lamps, are placed around the city, including on the ghats (steps that lead down into the river). Some lamps are even floated on the river itself. At night, the lamps are lit, illuminating the city - and the river - in candlelight.
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  (#1) India's Tripuri Tribe Sacrifice Animals to Please the River Goddess

  Every year, around March or April (there is no concrete date, but rather one determined by the Hindu Lunisolar calendar), the Tripuri people gather on the banks of the river to praise Ganga, a goddess and personification of the Ganges, during the celebration of Ganga Puja (a festival meant to honor the river).

  During the festival, the Tripuri sacrifice animals to the gods in hopes of gaining their favor. They hope that by honoring the gods, the gods will prevent epidemic diseases from affecting their community. They also ask the gods to ensure the well-being of pregnant women within the tribe. 
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  (#3) Bodies Are Cremated on the Banks

  Funeral rites vary wildly from religion to religion and culture to culture. In Hinduism, cremation is very important; it is believed that a proper cremation releases one's soul from their physical body so they can be reborn. But for those looking to escape the cycle of reincarnation, the ancient city of Varanasi is very important. It is believed that if you die in this holy city along the banks of the Ganges, you will achieve moksha, or liberation from reincarnation, and become one with Brahman, the Ultimate Reality in Hinduism.

  In Varanasi, bodies are cremated on the banks of the Ganges. The ashes are then spread in the holy river. After cremation, it is important for the family of the deceased to cleanse themselves, and when cremation takes place in Varanasi, this cleansing often takes place in the Ganges. 

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