Journey to Gangotri: The Story of River Ganga

Story

It was a bright and sunny summer morning. The Mehra family—Papa, Mummy, and their two children, the 10-year-old Rajat and the 8-year-old Ragini—were very excited. After a long and adventurous trip, they had finally reached Gangotri, a beautiful place high up in the Himalaya mountains.

Tall snowy peaks, cool breeze, and the sound of the Ganga River made everything feel calm and peaceful.

Rajat looked around and said, “Wow! This place is amazing!”

They first visited the Gangotri Temple dedicated to Goddess Ganga. People were praying, ringing bells, and offering flowers. Rajat folded his hands quietly, while Ragini whispered, “Is this where Ganga starts?”

“I don’t know”, said Rajat, “will have to ask”.

After the darshan, they met their local tour guide, a kind man named Uncle Mohan, who wore a warm smile and a woollen cap.

“Uncle,” Rajat asked quickly, “Where does Ganga come from? How did it start flowing here?”

Uncle Mohan smiled and said, “Aha! That’s a very old and beautiful story. Come, let me tell you the story of the origin of the river Ganga.”

They sat near a resting spot, under tall trees. Uncle Mohan began:

“Long, long ago, there was a wise and noble king named Bhagirath. His ancestors had made a mistake, and they had turned to ashes. Bhagirath wanted to bring peace to their souls. To do that, he had to bring Ganga—a heavenly river—down to Earth to wash away their sins.”

Ragini’s eyes widened. “But how could he bring a river from the sky?”

“Good question,” said Uncle Mohan. “He left his palace, gave up everything, and prayed for years. Finally, Goddess Ganga agreed to come. But she warned him that her fall would be so powerful, it could destroy the Earth!”

“Oh no!” Rajat gasped. “Then what did Bhagirath do?”

“He prayed to Bhagwan Shiv,” continued Uncle Mohan. “Shiv ji is the kind and strong god who lives in the Himalayas. He agreed to help. He is the protector of the universe and always comes to help those who are pure in heart. When Ganga came crashing down from the sky, Shiv ji caught her in his thick, matted hair and gently let her flow down to Earth like a calm river.”

The children listened with wonder.

“Ganga followed Bhagirath, and when she reached the place where his ancestors lay, her waters washed over them, giving them peace. That’s why this river is so holy, and people come here from all over India to wash away their sins.”Since Bhagirath took a great effort in bringing the river Ganga to the Earth, Ganga is also known as Bhagirathi.

The next day, the family hiked with a group to the Gaumukh Glacier, the source of the Ganga. It looked like a giant cow's mouth made of ice, with crystal clear water trickling down.

“Look, Rajat!” Ragini pointed. “It’s the origin of the Ganga!”

Papa smiled, “Just imagine—this water has travelled for thousands of years, from the heavens to the mountains, all because of Bhagirath’s faith and Shiv Ji’s help.”

As they sat beside the river one last time, Rajat dipped his feet into the cool water.

Mummy nodded, “And remember, children—when we show courage, care for others, and keep trying like Bhagirath, we can do great things too. Just like Shivji controlled the flow of the Ganga and made it gentle and helpful for everyone, we should also use our energy wisely so it brings good to the world.

The family held hands, smiling at the flowing River Ganga and saying thank you in their hearts.