The Ganges: Cultural, Economic and Environmental Significance

ISBN-13: 9783030791193 / Angielski / Miękka / 2022

Vishwambhar Prasad Sati

Opis

‘The Ganges: Cultural, Economic, and Environmental Importance’ is a geographical, cultural, economic, and environmental interpretation of the Ganga River. The Ganga River originates from Gaumukh- situated in the high Himalaya, flows through the world’s biggest fertile alluvial plain, and inlets into the Bay of Bengal at Ganga Sagar. It makes a unique natural and cultural landscape and is believed to be the holiest river of India. The Hindus called it ‘Mother Ganga’ and worship it. The towns/cities, situated on its bank, are world-famous and are known as the highland and valley pilgrimages. The water of the Ganga is pious, and the Hindus use it on different occasions while performing the rituals and customs. This book is unique because no previous study which presents a complete and comprehensive geographical description of the Ganga has been composed. This book presents the historical and cultural significance of the Ganga and its tributaries. Empirical, archival, and observation methods were applied to conduct this study. There are a total of 10 chapters in this book such as ‘Introduction’, ‘the Ganga Basin’, ‘Geography of the Ganga Basin’, ‘the Ganges System: Ganga and its Tributaries’, ‘Ganga between Gaumukh and Uttarkashi’, ‘the Major Cultural Towns’, ‘Major Fairs and Festivals’, ‘Economic Significance of the Ganga’, ‘Environmental Issues’, and ‘Conclusions’. The contents of the book are enriched by 89 figures, 15 tables, and substantial citations and references. 

Spis treści

List of Tables

List of Figures

Glossary and Abbreviation

Chapter 1: Introduction

Abstract

1.1 Origin and Extension of the Ganga River

1.2 Historical Perspectives of the Ganga

1.3 Cultural and Economic Importance of the Ganga

1.4 Importance of Water in Hindu Scriptures

1.5 Description of the Ganga in Hindus Religious Wisdom

1.6 Objectives and Significance of the Study

1.7 Organization of the Study

References

 

Chapter 2: The Ganga Basin

 

Abstract

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Salient Features of the Ganga and its Tributaries

2.3 State-Wise Distribution of Drainage Area

2.4 Area, Population, and Density of the Ganga Basin

2.5 Conclusions

References

Chapter 3: Geography of the Ganga Basin

 

Abstract

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Climate

3.3 Faunal Resources

3.4 Floral Resources

3.5 Ganga’s Topography

3.5.1 The First Stage (Youthful)

3.5.2 The Second Stage (Mature)

3.5.3 Third Stage (Old Stage)

3.6 Conclusions

References

 

Chapter 4: The Ganga and its Tributaries

 

Abstract

4.1 Introduction

4.2 The Ganga River

4.3 The Yamuna River

4.4 Tons River

4.5 The Bhilangana River

4.6 The Alaknanda River

4.7 The Saraswati River

4.8 The Dhauli Ganga

4.9 The Nandakini River

4.10 The Pindar River

4.11 The Mandakini River

4.12 Kali Ganga

4.13 Son Ganga

4.14 Madhyamaheshwar Ganga   

4.15 The Nayar River (E)

4.16 The Nayar River (W)

4.17 Ramganga (W)

4.18 The Kosi River

4.19 The Kali River

4.20 The Dhauli Ganga (E)

4.21 The Goriganga

4.22 The Ramganga (E)

4.23 The Saryu River

4.24 The Gomati River

4.25 Conclusions

References

 

Chapter 5: The Ganga between Gaumukh and Uttarkashi

 

Abstract

5.1 Introduction  

5.2 A Journey from Uttarkashi to Gangotri

5.3 Case Study of Some Important Villages

5.3.1 Gaumukh

5.3.2 Gangotri

5.3.3 Bhaironghati

5.3.4 Lanka

5.3.5 Mukhimath (Mukhawa)

5.3.6 Dharali

5.3.7 Harshil

5.3.8 Jaspur

5.3.9 Sukhi

5.3.10 Gangnani

5.3.11 Bhatwadi

5.3.12 Uttarkashi

5.4 Conclusion

References

 Chapter 6: The Major Cultural Towns

 Abstract

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Major Cultural Towns Situated on the Bank of the Ganga

6.2.1 Gaumukh

6.2.2 Gangotri

6.2.3 Uttarkashi

6.2.4 Devprayag

6.2.5 Rishikesh

6.2.6 Haridwar

6.2.7 Prayagraj

6.2.8 Varanasi

6.2.9 Gangasagar

6.3 Other Major Cultural Towns Situated on the Tributaries of the Ganga

6.3.1 Kedarnath

6.3.2 Badrinath

6.3.3 The Main Prayags

6.3.4 Yamunotri

6.3.5 Hanol

6.3.6 Bageshwar

6.3.7 Jageshwar

6.4 Some Important Tirthas on the Bank of the Ganga

6.5 Conclusions

References

 

Chapter 7: Major Fairs and Festivals

 Abstract

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Important Fairs and Festivals

7.2.1 Magh Mela

7.2.2 Kumbh Mela

7.2.3 Baishakhi

7.2.4 Akshaya Tritiya

7.2.5 Ganga Dashami/Dussehra

7.2.6 Kanwar Yatra

7.2.7      Ganga Mahotsav

7.3 Conclusions

 

Chapter 8: Economic Significance of the Ganga

 Abstract

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Ganga: The Life Line of India

8.3 The Agro-climatic Zones and Agricultural Development

8.4 Hydroelectricity Power Potential

8.5 Conclusions

References

 

Chapter 9: Environmental Issues in the Ganga Basin

Abstract

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Construction of Hydropower Projects

9.3 Increasing Pollution in the Ganga

9.4 Pollution in Ganga Water and its Impact

9.5 Conservation of the Ganga River

9.6 Conclusions

References

Chapter 10: Conclusions

 10.1 Cultural Importance of the Ganga

10.2 Natural and Economic Importance

10.3 Issues of Environmental Degradation

 

 

O autorze

Vishwambhar Prasad Sati (b. 1966), D.Litt. and Ph.D., a professor of Geography and

Resource Management, is currently working at the Mizoram University (A Central

University), Aizawl, India. With a teaching career of about three decades, he has served in

several higher education institutions within and outside India, some of them being Eritrea

Institute of Technology, Asmara, Eritrea (NE Africa), Institute of Mountain Hazards and

Environment, Chengdu, China, Madhya Pradesh Higher Education, and HNB Garhwal

University, Srinagar Garhwal. In the same field, he has deeply been involved in research,

and has worked as a Visiting Professor and Visiting Scholar in the worlds various

renowned research and academic institutions, including The World Academy of Sciences,

Chinese Academy of Sciences, Indian National Science Academy, Indian Council of Social

Science Research, and Indian Institute of Advanced Studies. Besides, he has travelled

widely 36 countries and all over India. He has an impactful expertise in the fields of

Natural Resource Management, Environment-Development Interface, Climate Change,

Rural Livelihoods, Disaster-Related issues, and Culture of the Himalayan region. He has

developed several models and action plans for environmental conservation and economic

development of the fragile Himalayan ecosystems/landscapes. More than a dozen of

national individual projects and projects with international collaboration have been

conducted by him. With more than 150 research papers and articles, and more than 30

books published, his academic contribution is well-documented at national and

international levels.