Panch Prayag is bespoken to the confluences of five sacred rivers in the Garhwal Himalayan region of the Indian state Uttarakhand. These confluences are associated with Hindu mythology and are considered sacred. Local Garhwal people and other pilgrims come together at five Prayag during Ram Navami, Basant Panchami, Uttarayan, and Makar Sankranti to take holy baths. The five Prayag are:
At Devprayag, the mainstream of the holy river Ganges “Bhagirathi” and Alaknanda meet. The importance of this confluence is considered equal to the Triveni Sangam of Allahabad where the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers join. The confluence is named after a poor Brahmin ‘Dev’ who was blessed by Lord Rama after performing severe religious rituals. Each bank of rivers has two Kunds: the Vashisht Kund and the Brahma Kund on the bank of Bhagirathi and Alakananda respectively.
This is the confluence of the Alaknanda River and the Pindar River. According to Hindu mythology, Karna from the epic Mahabharata did severe penance and gained protective armor ‘Kavach’ and Kundala (earring) from the father Sun god. Hence, the name of this confluence is derived from Karna. In the vicinity lies a temple to commemorate Karna and houses the idol of goddess Uma Devi. Besides, the image of Karna Temple also has the images of the goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva, and Lord Ganesha.
It’s the joining point of Alaknanda and the Mandakini River. Rudra is another name for Lord Shiva. Legend narrates Lord Shiva performed Tandav while playing Rudra Veena here, a dance form considered the source of creation, preservation, and dissolution. He turned Lord Vishnu to water by enticing him with the melodious sound of Veena. Temples of Rudranath and goddess Chamunda are situated here.
The Alaknanda River joins the Saraswathi River near Mana then the river flows through Badrinath, one of the scared Dhams of Hindus. Thereafter, at a distance of 25 Kms away river goes on to meet the Dhauliganga River which originates from Niti Pass to form Vishnuprayag. The confluence is called Vishnuprayag because Legend says sage Narada offered worship to Lord Vishnu here. It houses an octagonal-shaped temple that is devoted to Lord Vishnu.
Nandprayag in the cascading list of confluences is formed when the Mandakini River joins the main Alaknanda River. The Prayag is named after a noble King Nanda who performed Yagnya to seek the blessings of God. However, another saga says confluence derived the name from Foster's father “Nanda”, a Yadav king of Lord Krishna.
