Indian Rivers have immense significance in the lives of the citizens of the nation. They are the sources of drinking water and support the livelihoods of a large number of people and flora and fauna in India. There are fishermen, boatmen, farmers and others whose livelihoods depend on the Indian rivers. Often referred to as the ‘land of rivers’, India has been blessed with several water bodies, which enhance the beauty of the country. Indian rivers are part of mythology, religion, culture, history and legends of the country. These rivers are the oldest witnesses of the evolution of the civilization in India.

Origin and Course of Indian Rivers
Indian rivers originate from the mountains. Three primary watersheds of Indian rivers are formed by three groups of mountain ranges namely, the Himalayas and Karakoram ranges; the Vindhya Mountain Range, Satpura Mountain Range and Chota Nagpur Plateau; and the Western Ghats Mountain Range in India. Twisting between the valleys, the Indian rivers come down to the plains and nourish the lands, making them fertile. Some rivers empty themselves in the Arabian Sea and some join the Bay of Bengal at the end of their course. There are rivers in India which end up forming inland drainage basins within the country.

Classification of Indian Rivers
Indian rivers can broadly be divided into Himalayan Rivers, Deccan Rivers, Coastal Rivers and Inland Drainage Basin Rivers. Rivers associated with Indian mythology are known as mythological rivers. Some of these rivers are Rupa, Pampa, Oghavati Dhritamati and Saraswati River.

Major Indian Rivers
Two major Indian Rivers are Ganga River and Yamuna River. Ganga River, also known as Jahnavi originates from the Himalaya Mountains and gushes down to the plains. Yamuna River originates from the Yamunotri Glacier and is 1,376 km (855 mi) long.

Other Indian Rivers
Some of the other Indian rivers are Brahmaputra River, Krishna River, Kaveri River, Narmada River, Tapti River, Godavari River, Krishna River, Mahanadi River, Bhagirathi River and Alaknanda River.

Religious Significance of Indian Rivers
Most of the Indian rivers are considered to be holy and are worshipped by the Hindus. Ganga River is the holiest of all rivers in India. Most of the religious places in northern India are either situated on the banks of Ganga River or nearby. The holy water of the Ganga is used for worshipping the gods of India. It is believed that the sacred Indian rivers have the prowess to wash away all the sins of a person.

Economic Significance of Indian Rivers
Indian Rivers facilitate irrigation and generation of hydroelectricity via dams. A host of dams and multipurpose river valley projects have been developed on several rivers. These rivers act as waterways, thus facilitating transportation. For example, the Ganga River is a popular waterway that connects several Indian regions. Indian rivers significantly affect the growth of crops in India. The lands lying in proximity to the Indian rivers are considered to have rich soils. Hence, these lands are primarily used for agriculture, making it the main source of income for many farmers. Indian rivers and their tributaries are largely responsible for attracting tourists from across the world. In contemporary India, rivers like Alaknanda River and others are utilized for adventure sports like kayaking and river rafting. Thus, it can be said that the Indian rivers have an indispensable role to play in the Indian economy.