Which river is considered the holiest by Hindus?

• A. Yamuna River
• B. Brahmaputra River
• C. Ganges River
• D. Godavari River

Answer: (C)

In Hindu belief, rivers can be divine beings that purify and sustain life, and one river is regarded with uniquely supreme sacredness. The Ganges is considered the holiest. It is personified as the goddess Ganga, and believers hold that its waters purify sins and aid spiritual progress toward liberation. Bathing in the Ganges, making offerings, and performing funerary rites along its banks are central practices for many Hindus, reinforcing its revered status. Myth explains its descent from heaven to earth and its taming by Lord Shiva, which makes its flow habitable and accessible for spiritual purification. While other rivers such as the Yamuna, Brahmaputra, and Godavari are important and holy in various contexts, they do not share the universal central sacred status of the Ganges.