A visit to America's Gangotri
"After a visit to Mississippi, I could not resist the temptation of comparing it with sacred Ganga", writes Lalit K Jha.
Terming the headwater of the Mississippi river, located in a remote corner of
Minnesota State of the US amidst thick vegetation and at the end of a magnificent big water body, as America's Gangotri might look odd to many people.
But, after a visit to this historic place, I could not resist the temptation of terming it so and comparing it with our sacred Ganga because of some obvious reasons.
Though headwater (starting point) of Mississippi river might not be as sacred or revered by the Americans as Gangotri or Yamunotri, but both the rivers are lifelines of their respective countries.
Almost on the lines of our Ganga, the Mississippi river encompasses the US's most productive agricultural and industrial regions, besides being chief navigable water route of the country.
It is for these reasons that the headwater of the Mississippi river -- whose contribution to the US life and economy is immense -- every year this remote part of the United States attracts thousands of people wherein people touch the water and cross the mighty river on foot.
Even if, it might not be considered to be a pilgrimage for the Americans as Gangotri is considered for the Hindus, the respect and admiration for the Mississippi headwater - a popular tourist destination -- is not less than that of the Ganges.
Though, so far, I never had the opportunity to visit either Gangotri or Yamunotri, but the moment I kept my feet down in the crystal clear water coming out of a narrow outlet of the Lake Itasca, it gave me the same feeling as I had while in Haridwar: all the tiredness vanished and suddenly I became fresh.
As there is no natural boundary, for the convenience of the tourists the authorities have drawn up a line of stones to mark the start of the great river. On the trunk of a tree it is then written: "Here 1,475 feet above the ocean the mighty Mississippi begins to flow on its winding way 2,552 miles (nearly 3,800 kilometres) to the Gulf of Mexico."
Just like Ganges from a narrow stream at its start, the river assumes mighty proportion - good enough for large ships - towards its end at the Gulf of Mexico. While towards the end, one might not even think of crossing the river as at times it becomes difficult to see the other side of it through named eyes; last Saturday children and young were enjoying the privilege of crossing this river in a matter of few minutes in knee deep water.
While many were simply standing in the river and feeling the force of the current trying to push against legs, some enthusiastic ones specially children were having fun in one way or the other.
"Now I can say, I crossed over Mississippi by foot," was the common refrain among all of them. In fact this becomes the statement for all those who happen to come to this headwater.
As we people came out of the river and took pictures as souvenirs, about a hundred steps towards the exit was a board giving details of the discovery of this historic place, search of which brought many explorers in the 19th century.
"The search ended when Ojibwe chief OzawIndb guided Henry Rowe Schoolcraft to Lake Itasca in 1832," it said.
As we came out from here after a trip down the lake Itasca and proverbial crossing of the river by foot, we then moved on to Bemijidji, the first city on the Mississippi.
Although, not as big or popular as Haridwar, Bemijidji instantly attracts the attention of a visitor because of its natural beauty and the massive lake here. For years the city has also been renowned as the home of the folk heroes, Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. Both the folklore and the Indian legends are seen at the lakeside.