Cascading, roaring, meandering down the by lanes of the valleys, the Indian rivers are the source of sustenance for many. Often referred to as the land of rivers, India has been blessed with several water bodies that enhance the beauty of the country. Besides this the Indian rivers are wrapped in mythology, religion and legends. Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati are the probable three names three names that would spring upto one`s lips whilst discussing about rivers in India. However, the Indian geography comprise of several other rivers too, for instance, Brahmaputra, Krishna, Cauvery, Narmada, etc.
Whilst at one hand the Indian rivers render a picturesque beauty to Indian landscape, these are also the source of irrigation, hydroelectricity, transportation and other practical purposes. From times immemorial the Indian rivers have been one of the popular ways of travelling across the country. The Ganga River has been a popular waterway that connected several Indian regions. Besides this it is also considered a holy river; rather the holiest in the subcontinent. It is popularly said that the river has the prowess to wash away all sins. One of the legendary Indian rivers Ganga originates in the Himalayas and gushes down to the plains. Most of the religious places in North India are either situated on the banks of Ganges or nearby. It is also known as Bhagirathi and Jahnavi. Other Indian
mythological rivers comprise Yamuna, Narmada, Rupa, Pampa, Kaveri and others.
In fact the Indian rivers are an indispensable part of the Indian cultural ethos. At the same time these water bodies act as the main source of sustenance for many people. There are fishermen, boatmen, farmers and others whose livelihoods depend on the Indian rivers. Rivers are main source of irrigation. As a result the crops are largely dependent on them. Moreover the lands lying in proximity to the Indian rivers are considered to have rich soils. Hence these lands are primarily used for agriculture; making these the main source of income for many farmers. Depending on such several factors the Indian rivers are worshipped across the country. For instance the holy water of the Ganges is used for worshipping the deities and a dip into river Yamuna frees one`s spirit of all sins.
As far as the
origin of Indian rivers are concerned there are primarily three watersheds: Himalayas and the Karakoram ranges; Vindhya, Satpura ranges and the Chota Nagpur Plateau; and the Western Ghats. The Indian rivers can also be broadly divided into Himalayan Rivers, coastal rivers and Deccan Rivers. With changing times the role of the Indian rivers in the diaspora has also underwent sea changes. Rivers like Alaknanda and others in contemporary India are utilised for adventure sports, for instance, river rafting. The gushing streams of these Indian rivers make them apt for promoting such adventure sports.
Apart from nourishing the
Indian flora and fauna the rivers and their tributaries are largely responsible for attracting tourists from across the world. Thus, it would not be at all be wrong to state that the Indian rivers have an indispensable role to play in the Indian economy. A host of dams and the
Multipurpose River Valley projects in India have been developed on the river systems that include the Brahmaputra River System, Narmada River System, Tapti River System, Godavari River System, Krishna River System, Kaveri River System and Mahanadi River System.
The ever-flowing Indian rivers are easily the oldest witnesses of the evolution of the civilisation. Hence they are significant historically, religiously and culturally. Even the damming around has not altered their inherent nature--- the Indian rivers spring up from the mountains and flow with the same gusto as they did several years ago. Twisting between the valleys they come down to the plains and nourish the lands with vitality and fertility.
