River Ganga is having a significant place in Indian religion. It comes out from Gangotri and then crossing high hills and mountains it reaches to Haridwar and Rishikesh. It flows in the cities of Uttar Pradesh such as Varanasi and Allahabad and then comes to Bihar. Finally it merges in the ocean. Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswait all three rivers merge at the holy place called Prayag. Such confluence of rivers is known as Sangam. Ganga is most ancient and the largest river. It is called the river of heaven. Ganga that flows in heaven is known as Mandakini Ganga, on earth it is called Bhagirathi Ganga and in Pataal it is known as Bhogwati Ganga. Ganga is so pure that it can even wash away the sins of mankind. Bhagirathi was a descendant of Sagar dynasty. He performed severe austerity to bring Ganga from heaven to earth and he succeeded in doing so. In Haridwar Ganga is worshipped and Aratis are performed each evening. When Ganga descended from the heaven it was having a tremendous force. So Vishnu and Brahma asked Shiva to take the Ganga into his matted locks. He did so and thus it was confined in Lord Shiva’s hair

During Ganga Dassehra Hindus worship this river for ten days as a great Goddess. In all cities and hills, where the water of Ganga flows the people offer their obeisance to this divine river and worship with great spiritual fervor. In Haridwar Aarti is performed at the time of sunset and people chant the Vedic Mantras.