What are the 7 sacred rivers of India? Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri. A verse said in almost every puja calls on all seven to enter the water of the kalash.
The 7 rivers
| River | Rises at | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Ganga | Gangotri, Uttarakhand | Varanasi, Haridwar and Prayagraj |
| Yamuna | Yamunotri, Uttarakhand | Mathura, Vrindavan, and the Sangam at Prayagraj |
| Godavari | Trimbakeshwar, Maharashtra | Called Dakshin Ganga; Nashik and Bhadrachalam |
| Saraswati | Praised in the Rig Veda | Held to flow unseen to the Sangam |
| Narmada | Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh | Omkareshwar and the Narmada parikrama |
| Sindhu | Tibet | The Indus of the Vedas |
| Kaveri | Talakaveri, Karnataka | Srirangapatna and Srirangam |
The Kumbh Mela rotates between four river sites: Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik.
Timings and rules change through the year, so check with the temple before you travel.
Sources
- The kalash prayer said in puja: Gange cha Yamune chaiva Godavari Saraswati, Narmade Sindhu Kaveri.
- Rig Veda, for the praise of the Saraswati.
If you can’t travel
You can have a puja done at the Sangam in your name, or perform an abhishekam at home.
Questions devotees ask us
What is the Sangam?
The meeting of the Ganga and Yamuna at Prayagraj, with the unseen Saraswati, also called Triveni Sangam.
Why are these rivers invoked in a puja?
So that the water in the kalash is held to carry all their holiness, wherever the puja is done.