Ganges (Ganga) - Believed to wash away sins; central to Hinduism. Originates from Gangotri Glacier, central in rituals at Varanasi.
Yamuna - Revered as a companion of Lord Krishna. Flows through Mathura and Vrindavan, places of Krishna’s childhood stories.
Saraswati - Mythical river of knowledge, associated with Goddess Saraswati. Believed to meet Ganga and Yamuna at Prayagraj’s Triveni Sangam.
Brahmaputra - Worshiped in Assam as a life-giver. Famous for the world’s largest river island, Majuli, and its monastic culture.
Narmada - Circumambulation of this river is a sacred pilgrimage. Flows between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges, known for marble ghats.
Godavari - Known as the Ganga of the South. Pushkaralu festival, akin to the Kumbh Mela, occurs on its banks.
Kaveri (Cauvery) - Sacred river of South India, especially Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Central to rituals and disputes over its distribution.
Krishna - Second-largest east-flowing river; named after Lord Krishna. Source is Mahabaleshwar; meets the sea at Hamsaladeevi in Andhra Pradesh.
Tungabhadra - Tributary of Krishna. Historic Hampi, with its ancient temples and ruins, is located on its banks.
Sindhu (Indus) - Mentioned in ancient Vedas; cradle of the Indus Valley Civilization. Flows from Tibet to the Arabian Sea.