Bagmati

Bagmati (Nepal Bhasa:बागमती खुसी, _ne. बागमती नदी) is a river of Nepal. It flows through the Kathmandu valley and is the river separating Kathmandu from Lalitpur. It is considered a holy river both by Hindus and Buddhists. A number of Hindutemples are located on the banks of this river.

The importance of Bagmati also lies in the fact that Hindus are cremated on the banks of this holy river, and Kirants are buried in the hills by its side. According to the Nepalese Hindu tradition, the dead body must be dipped three times into the Bagmati river before cremation. The chief mourner (usually the first son) who lights the funeral pyre must take a holy river-water bath immediately after cremation. Many relatives who join the funeral procession also take bath in the Bagmati River or sprinkle the holy water on their bodies at the end of cremation. Bagmati River is thus considered purifying the people spiritually and physically.

Course

The river originates at Bagdwaar (Bag Tiger, dwar gate) on the northern hills of Kathmandu valley and flows by several important parts of Kathmandu (capital of Nepal) including the temple of Lord Pashupatinath, the holiest Hindu temple in Nepal. The river mixes with Bishnumati at Teku Dovan. The Dakshinkali temple complex is at the entrance to Chobar gorge, on the south of the valley. This gorge cuts through the Mahabharat Range or Lesser Himalaya. The river also crosses the lower Sivalik Hills before reaching the Terai, crossing into India, and joining the Kosi River.

Geography

The Chovar gorge cuts through the Mahabharat Range, also called the Lesser Himalaya. This 2,000 to 3,000 meter range is the southern limit of the "middle hills" across Nepal, an important cultural boundary between distinctive Nepali and more Indian cultures and languages, as well as a major geological feature.

The basin of the Bagmati River, including the Kathmandu Valley, lies between the much larger Gandaki basin to the West and the Kosi Basin to the east. These adjacent basins extend north of the main Himalayan range and cross it in tremendous gorges, in fact the Arun tributary of the Kosi extends far into Tibet. The smaller Bagmati rises some distance south of the Himalaya. Without glacial sources, its flow is more dependent on rainfall, becoming very low during the hot season (April to early June), then peaking during the monsoon season (Mid June-Mid August). In these respects the Bagmati system resembles the (West) Rapti system lying between the Gandaki basin and the Karnali basin in the far west of Nepal.

Pollution issues

The river is highly polluted due to the uncontrolled mixing of sewage to the river. Attempts are being made to monitor the Bagmati River system and maintain its cleanliness. These efforts are concentrated in Gaurighat area.

Religion

Bagmati is an important religious symbol to the Hindus of Nepal as Ganges is to Hindus of India.

Ancient shrines

Public baths have been built supplied by a small hot spring. Nearby are two small structure that over the last many centuries were shrines, first to Buddha and then to Hinduism. There a many sculptures along the walls. One sculpture fragment shows the remnant of a Buddha triptych, a Buddha flanked by two bodhisattvas. [cite web
author=Thomas J. Pritzker
year=1995
url=http://www.asianart.com/pritzker/pritzker.html
title=An Early Fragment from Central Nepal
publisher=asianart
accessdate=2008-02-10]

ee also

*Bagmati Zone

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.friendsofthebagmati.org.np/ Friends of the Bagmati]