The Yamuna River also well known as Jamuna or Jamna, Yami and Kalindi is one of the most sacred and second longest river in India. Yamunotri glacier of Himalaya, at the height of 6387 mtrs in the state of Uttarakhand is the starting point of Yamuna. The Surya kund or hot water spring named after the Lord Sun near Yamunotri is so hot that people can cook rice and potato by cooking them in cloth bags.
The length of Yamuna River is around 1,376 kilometres and crosses several states including Hariyana, Uttarpradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi etc and merges with holy Ganga River later on at Triveni Sangam at Allahabad the highly sacred place for Hinduism and Kumbh Mela. The States situated near Yamuna River are highly depended on water of Yamuna. The important tributaries of the Yamuna River are the Tons, the Chambal, the Hindon, the Sarda, the Betwa and the Ken.
Yamuna is believed as a holy river for Hinduism and is highly worshipped as the Devi Yamuna. In Hinduism it is believed when you get yourself bath in Yamuna river you are free from all the sins and you will become Krishna secure (bolte hain saare paap dhul jayenge). For holy dip in sacred river, Ghats are built and have its own importance in India. The Vishram Ghat which is located in Mathura is one of the biggest Ghat on Yamuna among 25 Ghats. Everyday there is a visit of various people for aarti and puja on Vishram Ghat. There are many mesmerizing spots on Yamuna River which are worth visiting. Every day local and foreign tourists arrive to visit Ghats and Yamunotri and the cities around them like Agra and Delhi. The flow of Yamuna behind the Taj Mahal makes it more scenic view (like cherry on a cake).Yamuna starts flowing from Yamunotri glaciers to the states like Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh before meeting Ganga river. The meeting of Ganga and Yamuna River is known as Triveni sangam along with the Sarasvati River which is located in prayagraj (Allahabad) where the Kumbh Mela is held every 12 years.
Goddess Yamuna also known as Yami, is daughter of Surya and his wife Saranyu and sister of Yama, god of death. Yamuna is associated with the Lord Krishna as one of the Ashtabharya thus on the night of Krishna’s birth, it is said he crossed the Yamuna River, which parted to make place for him to cross the turbulent waters. Yamunotri temple of Goddess Yamuna is one of the most prominent shrines in Hinduism and one of sacred place of Chhota Char Dham Yatra circuit or mini Char Dham of Uttarakhand along with Kedaranath, Badrinath and Gangotri.
Another name of Yamuna is Yami the Sanskrit word which means parallel and as stated it flows parallel with River Ganges. It is said that 100 years ago the water of Yamuna River was clear Cristal blue in color than the River Ganga. The Yamuna River is very clean when it emerges out from Uttarkhand to Delhi but after merging with the other rivers the Yamuna gets polluted and the discharge of waste water makes it dirtier. After the population explosion in India, the industrialization developments and various other factors made Yamuna today the most polluting river in India. The pollution starts from wazirabad from where Yamuna enters Delhi. Most of the polluted contaminants comes from Delhi by the disposal waste of factories, household and municipal waste, etc. It is been estimated that 58% disposal waste comes from the capital. Only 33% waste is being treated and other contaminants is getting flowed with the water. The Yamuna River is so much polluted nowadays that it has become a harmful water for drinking purpose. The Delhi water essentials are completed up to 70% from Yamuna by treating the water into less harmful but the days are not far when the capital will have the dirtiest water around India. The Yamuna River can be treated if the sewage treatment is increased or there should be other source for the disposal of industries. As now the dissolved oxygen level is very low in Yamuna River, the aquatic life will be soon disappearing from the river as they will unable to survive there. The government is spending crores of rupees for cleaning and with the support of localities it will be developed soon.
