what is the origin of Ganga?

The Ganges, also known as the Ganga, is a transboundary river that flows through India and Bangladesh. The river originates in the Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, where it is known as the Bhagirathi. The Bhagirathi is formed by the confluence of the rivers Bhagirathi and Alaknanda at Devprayag.

The Ganges is considered a sacred river in Hinduism and is worshipped as the goddess Ganga. According to Hindu mythology, the river is said to have descended from heaven to earth to cleanse the sins of mankind. The story goes that King Bhagiratha performed severe penance to bring the river down to earth to purify his ancestors' souls. The goddess Ganga agreed to descend to earth, but the force of her fall was so great that Lord Shiva had to step in to break her fall, and he is often depicted in Hindu art as holding the river on his head.