Godavri - गोदावरी नदी

River Name Godavri River Length of River 1400 Km Course Mumbai , Maharashtra southeast across south-central Starting Point Triambak near Nasik in the Western Ghats northeast of Mumbai,Trimbak in Nasik of Maharashtra Ending Point Bay of Bengal, Dhaulekharam (Andhra Pradesh) Points of Interest Maharashtra,Andhra Pradesh , Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Orissa, Trimbakeshwar, Nasik , Nanded,Basar Starting Coordinates 20.012145, 73.781004 Major Tributaries Sabari, Indravati, Pranahita and Manijra river Wikipedia Links http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godavari_River Other Langauge Names Hindi: गोदावरी Malayalam: கோதவரி ஆறு

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The Godavari River is a major waterway in India, next in importance to the Ganges and Indus rivers. It ascends at Triambak which is situated near Nasik in the Western Ghats northeast of Mumbai (formerly Bombay) in Maharashtra. The Godavari flows some 1400 km southeast across south-central India into Andhra Pradesh, and drains into the Bay of Bengal through its seven mouths. Its major tributaries are the Manjra and Indravati rivers. The Godavari River is sacred to all religious people. It has several places of pilgrimage on its banks. Every twelve years, Pushkaram, a major bathing festival, is held on the banks of the river. It is sometimes called the 'Ganga of the South,' a term that is also applied to the Cauvery.

Godavri also known as Dakshina Ganga, is the longest river of South India. Godavri means the river which has the largest flow of water. As per the legend - the river was brought down to earth by Sage Gautama to expiate the sin of Killing a Cow. Lord Shiva was too happy to give some of his Jata/hair containing water. When the Sage Gautama sprinkled this water along with the Godavari water on the dead cow, she came alive, gave blessings to the Sage and disappeared. To this day Godavari is called as the birth giver of Cows. For the same reason, it is called as Goda or Godavari. It is believed that the water of Godavari when drank gives off spring to childless mothers.

Originating from Arabian Sea and ending towards Bay of Bengal, Godavri is supposed to be divided into seven small rivers named after seven sages before it merges into the sea. The Seven Sage are Kasyapa, Atri, Gautama, Bhaaradwaja, Viswamitra, Jamdagni and Vashishtha. All the devotees of Godavri take a dip in all these rivers to complete one cycle of Pilgrime. If any one of the seven rivers are left out, the pilgrim is supposed to be incomplete.

The second largest river in India, Godavari is often referred to as the Vriddh (Old) Ganga or the Dakshin (South) Ganga. The name may be apt in more ways than one, as the river follows the course of Ganga's tragedy: Pollution in this peninsular river is fast reaching unsafe levels. The Godavari originates near Triambak in the Nasik district of Maharashtra, and flows through the states of Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. Although its point of origin is just 80 kms away from the Arabian Sea, it journeys 1,465 kms to fall into the Bay of Bengal. Some of its tributaries include Indravati, Manjira, Bindusara and Sarbari. Some important urban centers on its banks include Nasik, Aurangabad, Nagpur, Nizamabad, Rajahmundry, and Balaghat.

One of the major Pilgrimage of River Godavri is the Trymbak Village in Nasik of Maharashtra. Tribmbekashwar, Jyotirlinga, Panchwati, Rajahmundri, Bhadrachalam, Nanded and Kotapalli are the sacred places and cities situated on the banks of Godavari.

With a drainage area of 313,000 sq kms in seven states - Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Orissa it has Sabari, Indravati, Pranahita and Manijra river s as it main contributors.

Savour of Ailments : Drinking the water of Godavri river is supposed to cure major diseases like leprosy, tuberculosis, blood pressure. It is also supposed to be good in treating stomach related ailments like digestion and gastric problems.

There are seven main/ sacred rivers in India - Ganga, Yamuna, Sindhu, Saraswati, Godavari, Narmada and Kaveri. All of them have their own significance. But there is one thing which is common to all - they all come from the melted Ice of Himalayas. In a Religious Country like India, the water of Rivers is not only used for irrigation purposes, but they are also revered as Goddesses. They are often prayed, fasts are kept to keep them happy and temples are built in their respect. There are also a number of festivals held in their respect. Various religious and cultural festivals are held on the banks of rivers and people feel blessed by taking a dip in the holy waters of these rivers. Godavri, out of all the seven rivers have a special significance.

Suggestions

Places of Pilgrims especially Sacred Rivers of India are filled with Sages/Sadhus, beggars and all class of people. People mostly come here for the purpose of going to a Pilgrime rather than an excursion. So maintain the decorum of a Pilgrim.

Nicely clad cotton clothes with wraps are preffered and admired in these places. Do not wear short clothes as they may attract discripencies.

River banks are a favorite place of Astrologers and Street Hawkers. Try ti be away from them as much as possible. However if you wish to seek some advice from these astrologers or buy from Hawkers, keep an strict eye on your belongings. Your belongings are your responsibility and nobody else's.

NON - VEGETARIAN IS STRICTLY NOT ALLOWED IN SUCH SACRED PLACES. Be prepared to eat totally vegetarian, typically Indian and greasy (heavily loaded with ghee and oil) food. Sweets are a must haves in such places.

Book your hotel much earlier as in the festive season, there is no way you will find a hotel here. Even if find one in festive season, be ready to pay exhobirant price.

For you own good, go to such places either in a group or at least two people should be there. Avoid travelling alone.

Keep your passport, travel cards, travelers cheques, along with you. Don't give it to anyone else.

Pollution

Like most other rivers, domestic pollution is the biggest polluter of the river Godavari, accounting for 82 per cent of total pollution, whereas industrial pollution accounts for about 18 per cent.

Over half of the river basin (18.6 million ha), is categorized as cultivable land. Most of the river's water is drawn for irrigation purposes. Application of fertilizers is very high at 49.34 kg/hectares, almost double the country's average. Pesticides are also applied at the high rates of 146.47 kgs/sq. km of which 79 per cent are organochlorines. However, the Central Pollution Control Board refuses to acknowledge the pollution created by such high levels of fertilizer and pesticide usage.

But the story of pollution in the Godavari river evolves around the tiny Nakavaggu rivulet, which joins the Manjira, a tributary of the Godavari. The rivulet is dead and supports no life. Highly productive agricultural land surrounds the rivulet. More than 150 small and medium industries and several large industries near the twin cities of Secunderabad and Hyderabad release their effluents into the Nakavaggu rivulet.

However most of the blame lies with the 72 industries in the Patancheru Industrial area that have been dumping their effluents into the river. Bereft of treatment facilities, industrial effluents are let out into streams that collect in ponds. This overflow later reaches the Nakavaggu. A drain leading to Nakavaggu also carries effluents from BHEL, Asian Paints, and Voltas industries.

Industrial discharge from such industries has severely affected public health, surface and ground water and agriculture in 22 villages in this area.

The river water is heavily used for agriculture, as it is the only available water source. However, the river's water has turned the fertile soil toxic with heavy metals. The soil contains heavy metals like iron, nickel, zinc, copper, cobalt and cadmium.

Even the crop yield has suffered terribly. Before industrialization, the land's crop yield was 40 bags of paddy per acre and is now a mere 10 bags. Toxic metals in the soil have contaminated the crops, penetrated animal milk and affected human health.

Incidence of cancers has also sharply risen, including leukemia in young boys, lung cancer in non-smokers and liver cancer. Medical experts attribute these increased rates to high water pollution. The polluted water has also seeped underground, contaminating groundwater, and the surrounding soil is contaminated due to acidification.

Religious significance

Godavari is one of the most sacred rivers of India. Every twelve years, Pushkaram fair is held on its banks of the river. Thousands of people have a holy dip in the sacred waters of the river to purify themselves of all their sins.

Legend has it that Sage Gautama lived on the Brahmagiri Hills at Triambakeshwar with his wife Ahalya. The rishi kept his stock of rice in a granary. Once, a cow entered his granary and ate up the rice. When the rishi tried to ward the cow away with Durbha grass, it fell dead. The rishi wanted to relieve himself of the sin of 'Gohatya'. He worshipped Lord Shiva and requested him to bring Ganga to purify his hermitage. Lord Shiva pleased with the rishi appeared as Triambaka and brought along river Ganga. Since Ganga was brought down to Triambakeshwar by Sage Gautama, she is known here as Gautami. She is also known as Godavari because the river helped Sage Gautama to releive of his sins.

Triambaka and brought along Ganga. Since Ganga was brought down to Triambakeshwar by Sage Gautama, she is known here as Gautami. It is also known as Godavari because the river helped Sage Gautama to releive of his sins.

Ecological significance

The Coringa mangrove forests in the Godavari delta are the second largest mangrove formation in the country. Part of this has been declared as the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, renowned for its reptiles. They also provide an important habitat to a wide variety of fish and crustaceans. These forests also act as barriers against cyclones, tropical stroms and tidal waves thus protecting the nearby villages.

The Godavari-Krishna basin is one of the main nesting sites of the endangered Olive Ridley turtle.

Although the river arises only 80 kilometres from the Arabian Sea, it flows 1,465 km to empty into the Bay of Bengal. Just above Rajahmundry there is a dam that provides water for irrigation. Below Rajahmundry, the river divides into two streams that widen into a large river delta which has an extensive navigable irrigation-canal system, Dowleswaram Barrage that links the region to the Krishna River delta to the southwest.

The Godavari River has a drainage area of 4,405 sq.km that includes more that one state. The Manjra river is its major tributary.