In Hinduism, the river Ganga is
considered sacred and is personified as the goddess Ganga. She is worshiped by
Hindus and Buddhists who believe that bathing in the river causes the remission
of sins and facilitates Moksha (liberation from the cycle of life and death),
and that the water of the Ganges is considered very pure. Pilgrims immerse the
ashes of their kin in the river Ganga, which is considered by them to bring the
spirits closer to moksha. She is known by many other names including
Bhagirathi, Jahnavi, Nikita, Jaahnukanya, Sapteshwari, Sureshwari, Bhagvati,
Urvijaya, Chitraani, Tridhara, Bhaagirathi, Shubhra, Vaishnavi, Vishnupadi,
Bhagvatpadi, Tripathaga, Payoshnika, Mahabhadra, Mandaakini, Meghna, Meghal,
Gangika, Gange, Gangeshwari and Alaknanda.
The birth of Ganga is celebrated in Gokarna with devotion.