- a river flowing SE from the Himalayas in N India into the Bay of Bengal: sacred to Hindus. 1,550 miles (2,495 km) long.
- the great river of N India and central Bangladesh: rises in two headstreams in the Himalayas and flows southeast to Allahabad, where it is joined by the Jumna; continues southeast into Bangladesh, where it enters the Bay of Bengal in a great delta; the most sacred river to Hindus, with many places of pilgrimage, esp Varanasi. Length: 2507 km (1557 miles)
