Alaknanda River, Mother Ganga, Uttarakhand
Published on 16/07/2023
Comments 66

The Mother River and a Nostalgic Journey of Nara Family to Gangotri- The Origin of Ganga or Ganges?

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I am not at all sure how did the British came up with the name ‘”the Ganges” for the Ganga. But I do know where the Ganga comes from!

The river Ganga is formed at a place called Devprayag at the juncture of the Bhagirathi river and the Alaknanda river. The Bhagirathi is named after king Bhagiratha who brought down the celestial Ganga from the heavens.

And the word Alaknanda literally means a young girl- the curls or the locks of hair of a young girl between 8 to 10 years which may also mean a young girl herself. The curls and locks of her hair are the waves of the river or the way of the Alaknanda in the Himalayas. When they meet at Devprayag- She is called the Ganga.

Also read: The Last Journey to Ganga and scenes from my Ancestral village


And The Ganga means ‘She who moves Swiftly’. It is ironical because after Devprayag, the valley slowly starts opening up. The water still remains chilled but here coming to Rishikesh from Haridwar that is merely 50 kms, Ganga enters the vast Indian plains.

As it entered the vast plains of my family all those years ago, i remember us fondly, happily living these moments like there will be no tomorrow.

Sharing with you all a journey from perhaps the bottom of my drive and heart:

A rare or say fondest nostalgia if i can say so. Us with the river Ganga.



May the Ganga bless and purify us all.

Har Har Gange.

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Thank you


If today is the first time you have arrived on The Road to Nara, you are heartily welcome ~ Namaste

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ROAD TO NARA



I will take this opportunity to introduce you to About me and importantly

As a co-traveller, will take you through the Ten Lessons I learnt from several years on the road, before you coarse on your own Road to Nara.

Also read: 9 Most Read Stories from Road To Nara in 2022



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You might also like to know about My Little School Project. 

If you wish to come over for a visit someday, that you must, you will be heartily welcome here


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If you have anything to share, or feel like saying a hello, please feel free to write to me at narayankaudinya@gmail.com

To visit other long-term photographic works, please visit here.


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As told by Dr. Svaboda

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On the cover(image) is my younger sister, young like the celestial river flowing in front of her, us.


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This entry was posted in: Alaknanda River, Mother Ganga, Uttarakhand
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Hi, I am Narayan Kaudinya. And i welcome you on this journey, the Road to Nara ! I am an Ethnographer and a practicing Indologist. I did my masters in History and further learnt Sanskrit, Yoga and Nerve-therapy. At 24, pushing most academic sounding, office sitting works away, i felt compelled to know and understand the world and my country, Bharat/India. I travelled, and as it happened i took up teaching in Kashmir and further up in the remote villages of Baltistan in the foothills of Karakoram Ranges. For around three years and many states later there came a time when i felt that it was only while teaching i learnt how to laugh, to see, feel, breathe, love and cry -with children, and mostly resource-less parents in the harshest-freezing border conditions. I write, and work as a documentary photographer and Filmmaker, with numerous published, exhibited and some awarded stories. In my travels and life i have let nature lead me, the divine mother, and as a Yogin, my resolve here is to share my experiences and thoughts as honestly, and through them to blossom in everyone the power and possibility in pursuing your breath, that you seek your true nature with courage and curiosity. Here, on this road i will share my spirit, my love for nature, the elements of life that are us. And in doing so, i'll be happy to see you along.

66 Comments

  1. Ashley says

    Dear Narayan, thank you for introducing me to the Ganga, a river that I will most likely never actually visit. But here in your post I can bathe, in my mind, in her life giving waters along with your wonderful family. 🙏🙏🙏🧘‍♂️

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Narayan Kaudinya says

      Dear Ashley, as they say, never say never again, I wish that you do, that you get to spend mornings and evenings at her side, with breeze and watching people praying to her with folded hands.

      Thank you for your beautiful comment.

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      • ganga1996 says

        I have seen Her beauty at Rishikesh and Haridwaar. Maybe a trip all through Her path this lifetime. Varanasi a dream destination for me.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
        • Narayan Kaudinya says

          Whoa, Ganga still has to visit Kashi 🙂 I feel you will. But I must tell you one thing, It is said that whoever visits Varanasi must leave something that he/she loves the most- just a saying 🙂 but i have seen it happening.

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply
  3. gabychops says

    This post about Ma Ganga is written in Narayan’s flamboyantly eloquent language, which is his trademark. The references to Indian mythology of the sacred river are poignant for many reasons, and also because his name is connected with water.
    Narayan’s professional photos are interesting and despite the lack of captions
    we recognize his family, and indeed his own photo because there is on the young man’s right hand a little tattoo, the same as in Narayan’s photo on the boat in Kashmir. Perhaps, we can expect more about Ma Ganga from Narayan, as the significance of the iconic river in the lives of the Indian nation is unparallel with the main rivers in other countries.

    Joanna

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    • Narayan Kaudinya says

      Dearest Joanna, thank you for acknowledging the details and for this delightful comment. I had been busy with work, at school and outside as Delhi floods after almost 50 years. Things are under control now.

      You know Ganga as much as us do, I wish someday you sit by her banks.

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      • gabychops says

        Thank you, Narayan, for your gracious reply! Climate change affects
        every part of the world, we are told to get used to the new “normal”.
        It would be a dream come true to see Ma Ganga!

        Joanna

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
            • gabychops says

              I can see that you have not lost your unique perception!

              Please, Dearest, look up the comments about my yesterday’s post about My Beloved Swamiji, part 3.

              Apart from the chant Om, the comments will make you proud to share your nationality with this giant of a man.

              When you read the comment by Neil, The ex-drummer of The Boss, you will be speechless and moved!

              Neil’s wisdom in saying what he did about Swamiji is something you should print out and put on the wall of your school, with a note that it was a quote from a musician who worked with Bruce Springsteen.

              Please Dearest, read it!

              Other comments are interesting too, such as the one from a woman who lives in Chicago but never saw the temple, and was determined to go and see it after reading and seeing it in my post.

              Love to you,

              Yours,

              Joanna

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            • Narayan Kaudinya says

              I read it all dearest, and this kind of depth and work is only the result of your beliefs and swamiji’s charm. Thank you. And lots and lots of Love to you.

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            • gabychops says

              Thank Dearest,

              I just send you an email, and I read your wonderful beyond-word comments, I will leave my reply here because WP is being chaotic!

              Love to you too,

              Joanna

              Like

      • Carolyn says

        I’m sorry Nara, I hadn’t heard of the floods in Delhi. There are so many climate related problems everywhere, a clear message that we must be kinder to our beautiful planet. Glad it is under control. Best wishes.

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  12. Rosaliene Bacchus says

    Interesting, Narayan. Who knows why the British changed the name of the river? Perhaps, in so doing, it gave them control or ownership. They also anglicized the surnames of indentured Indian laborers arriving in then British Guiana during the nineteenth century.

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    • Narayan Kaudinya says

      You are right Rosa, they actually wanted to hide, make people forget their identity by forging memory and history. To a good extent they succeeded plus carved two countries out of India.

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  13. gc1963 says

    Beautiful nostalgic moments captured in this pic. The photos speak so much more than the words. Stay blessed.

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  15. KK says

    Lovely pictures, Narayan ji, I could see happiness on the faces of all of you. Ganga is not only sacred, but pleasant too.

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