The Ganges (pronounced /ˈɡændʒiːz/; Hindi: गंगा Gaṅgā, IPA: [ˈɡəŋɡaː]  (Speaker Icon.svg listen), as in most Indian languages) is one of the major rivers of the Indian subcontinent, flowing east through the Gangetic Plain of northern India into Bangladesh.

The 2,510 km (1,560 mi) river rises in the western Himalayas in the Uttarakhand state of India, and drains into the Sunderbans delta in the Bay of Bengal. It has long been considered a holy river by Hindus and worshiped as the goddess Ganga in Hinduism. It has also been important historically: many former provincial or imperial capitals (such as Patliputra, Kannauj, Kara, Allahabad, Murshidabad, and Calcutta) have been located on its banks. The Ganges Basin drains 1,000,000-square-kilometre (390,000 sq mi) and supports one of the world's highest density of humans. The average depth of the river is 52 feet (16 m), and the maximum depth, 100 feet (30 m).

The many symbolic meanings of the river on the Indian subcontinent were spoken to in 1946 by Jawaharlal Nehru in his Discovery of India,

The Ganges, above all is the river of India, which has held India's heart captive and drawn uncounted millions to her banks since the dawn of history. The story of the Ganges, from her source to the sea, from old times to new, is the story of India's civilization and culture, of the rise and fall of empires, of great and proud cities, of adventures of man…

The banks of the River Ganges at Varanasi transform during the Ganga Mahotsava as thousands of Hindu pilgrims dip themselves and their oil lamps into the sacred waters.

Ganga Mahotsav is a five day event celebrated on the banks of the river Ganges in Varanasi. This festival is celebrated to promote Varanasi as the cultural capital of India and the Ganges as India’s lifeline. Ganga has always been an integral part of India and is considered as a thing of reverence by the Hindus. Ganga gives a sense of belonging to the people of India especially those living near the banks.

Rituals and celebrations
Ganga Mahotsav is organized on Dev Deepavali or the full moon day in the Hindu month of Kartik. The festival is one of the most spectacular that take place along the ghats (steps down to the river) during the year. Several thousand Hindu pilgrims come to the water's edge during the day - each one carrying an oil lamp which they float on the surface.

The banks of the river Ganga are lit with earthen lamps or diyas amidst chanting of Vedic hymns. The ghats of Ganga wear a mystic look as hundreds of people walk to take bathe in the wee hours of the holy day. Men and women take a holy dip in the river while chanting mantras and doing surya namaskar or bowing to the sun-God.