The Ganges river, or Ma Ganga as she’s known to her devotees, arises from Shiva’s hair in Indian mythology. She descends from her birthplace in Gangotri high up in the Himalayas, down into the foothills of the Shivalik mountains, and continues to snake her way into the plains below. She brings fertility to the land in her countless tributaries and streams, as well as welcome respite from the summer heat. Animals and humans alike are drawn into the arms of the life giving mother.
Banks of the holy Ganges river near Rishikesh, India