. The Hindus call it “Mother”, “Ma Ganga”, venerate it, adore it, give it all kinds of offerings and build huge temples in its honour on its consecrated land.

 . The immersion in the Ganges is supposed to wash the believer’s sins away and the dispersal of ashes in the river can bring a better future life and even allows one to achieve moksha earlier, i.e. the release from the Samsara, the cycle of reincarnation.

. It is the River Ganges which gives its sacred character to the city of Kashi. The banks and the steps which bord the River Ganges called "ghats" are the favoured place of the religious rites, but also of the most profane activities.

" Ganga Mata ki Jai ! "

Copyright©2005, Séverine Dabadie-Christiane Etchezaharreta