Ganges In Hinduism
In Hinduism, the river Ganges is referred to as Gaṅgā (Sanskrit: गङ्गा, Hindi: गंगा Gaṅgā, Burmese: ဂင်္ဂါ, Ginga; Tamil: கங்கை gangkai, Thai: คงคา Khongkha) and is considered sacred. Personified as a goddess, Gaṅgā is worshiped by Hindus who believe that bathing in the river causes the remission of sins and facilitates liberation from the cycle of life and death. Pilgrims travel long distances to immerse the ashes of their kin in the waters of the Ganges, bringing their spirits closer to nirvana.
Several places sacred to Hindus lie along the banks of the river Ganges, including Gangotri, Haridwar, Allahabad and Varanasi. During the Loy Krathong festival in Thailand, candlelit floats are released into waterways to honor the Buddha and the goddess Ganga (พระแม่คงคา, คงคาเทวี) for good fortune and washing away sins.
Read more about Ganges In Hinduism: Birth, Descent To Earth, Rigveda, Other Religious Associations