Bhagirathi

Epithet for the Ganges as both river and
goddess. The word Bhagirathi is derived
from the name Bhagirath, the single
person most responsible for bringing
the Ganges to earth. Bhagirathi is also
the name for a Himalayan tributary of
the river; the Ganges itself is formed
when the Bhagirathi unites with the
Alakananda River at Devaprayag.
Although the Alakananda is longer and
wider, the Bhagirathi flows through
Gangotri, the sacred site (tirtha) celebrated as the source of the Ganges. As
with all the Himalayan tributaries of the
Ganges, the Bhagirathi is considered
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Bhagirathi
As a tributary of the Ganges, the waters of the
Bhagirathi River are considered sacred and its
banks contain several pilgrimage sites.
sacred. Important pilgrimage places
along this tributary include Gangotri
near its headwaters, Uttarkashi, and
Devaprayag.