The river Brahmaputra is the symbol of power and majesty for the people of
Indian subcontinent...This extremely powerful river has not only caught the imaginations
of farmers of the river valley but also the adventure sports.
Tsangpo - Brahmaputra in Tibbet
The river brahmaputra is one of the major river in the world. It originates from Mansarovar
near Mount Kailash in the Himalayas, flows via Tibbet, China, India and Bangladesh to Bay of bangal.
The total length it travels from Himalayans to the Bay is 2900 Km.
In Tibbet the river is known as 'Tsangpo'. It follows the great Himalayans in its course till
India with an avergae height of 4000 meters. It enters India in Arunachal Pradesh where it is
called 'Siang'. It then flows down to the plains of Assam, where it is called Dibang. It joins with
other two giant rivers, Dibang and Lohit. There are many tributaries which joins Brahmaputra on
both northern and southern bank of the river in Assam. With all it's tributaries, the river
creates the fertile Brahmaputra Valley of Assam. After Assam Brahmaputra enters Bangladesh where
it flows for 240 kms to meet Ganges. It is called Jamuna there and finally flows into the Bay of Bangal.
The Brhmaptura river is the lifeline of the all the people living in Assam and Bangladesh.
The Brahmaputra from Bhumuraguri Bridge, Tezpur
The Mighty Brahmaputra
Some interesting facts about Brahmaputra:
1. In the Tibbet and Himalayan region, Brahmaputra flows at an average height of 400 eters for 13000 kms.
This highest for any major river in the world.
2. The mighty Brahmaputra is supposed to be on of the most powerful river in the world. Based upon
the flow rate, Brahmaputra is the fifth strongest river in the world.
3. The Brahmaputra is one of those vwey few major rivers in the world which exhibit 'tidal bore'.
It means incoming tides form waves that travel up the river against the direction of the current.
This is what called a true 'tidal wave' in geography. This is one of the reason behind
Brahmaputra's enormous strength.
4. 'Majuli', the largest island created by a river also resides in the Brahmaputra. This
river island is situated in Assam and around 100 km in length.
5. The Brahmaputra along with Ganges create the largest delta in the world, Sundarban in Bangladesh.
6. The average width of Brahmaputra is close to 10 km in plains which is on the widest in the world.
7. Where Brahmaputra enters India is till date on the most remote and adventurous part of the world.
The river flows rapidly down to the plains from a height of 4000 meters in this region. This unknown
region had trapped imagination of British for many decades in 19th century until it was discovered.
8. The rivers are considered to be female in India. But the Brahmaputra is the only male
river in India.
Brahmaputra in Indian Mythology:
Brahmaputra means the son of the Hindu Lord 'Brahma'.
There are many mythological stories on Brahmaputra. But the most popular and sacred one is
about the river's birth in 'Kalika Purana'. It describes how Parashurama, one of the ten
incarnations of Lord Vishnu, got rid of his sin of murdering his own mother with an axe (or Parashu) by taking bath in
this sacred river. On strict order from his father Yamadagni (who had suspected his
wife Renuka of adultery), Parashuram had to murder his own mother by severing her head
with an axe. As a result of this nefarious act, the axe got stuck to his hand and he was
unable to take it off his hand. On advice from sages, he started on a pilgrimage and
ultimately reached the place, which is presently known as Parashuram Kunda (about 25 km
north of Tezu in Lohit district in Arunachal Pradesh). The story says that the mighty
river was then confined to a Kund (or Kunda) or a small lake surrounded by hills.
Parashuram cut down the hills on one side to release the sacred water for the benefit
of the common people. By this act, Parashuram’s axe came out of his hand to his great
relief and he knew that he had been exonerated from his sin.
The Brahmaputra and Assam:
The Brahmaputra is also called as 'Luhit' or 'Burha Luit' in Assam. It is derived from the
word 'Lohit' means 'blood' in Assamese. This name is believed to be related to the story
of Parashuram described above. The river Brahmaputra and it's fertile valley is the lifeline
of Assam. It's is the symbol of power and greatness for the people of Assam. Majuli, the river island
of Assam is the art, culture and religious capital of Assam till date. But equally Brahmaputra has
been destructing Assam every year with it's devastating flood after 1950s. The flood issue is
becoming the most concerned threat to the economy of the state. The flood also affest wlidlife of
Assam like Kaziranga National Park which is the habitat of the endangered
One Horned Rhino.
Preserve Brahmaputra River:
The Brahmaputra is the least polluted of all other major rivers of India. Most of the
poluutions are created by Oil Industries of Assam and wastes of cities like Guwahati. The pollution
concern around Guwahati is increasing day by day, and it's high time to stop it now or we will
have to pay the consequences soon!
