Know Where The Holy Ganga Begins.
His devotion moved Goddess Ganga to descend, but her powerful flow could have destroyed the planet. When Lord Shiva caught Ganga in his tangled hair, he slowly let her go so she wouldn't fall as hard. People in Gangotri celebrate Ganga's descent as the start of her tenure on Earth. This tale makes the river sacred and Gangotri an important position in history and culture. Bhagirath Shila is the name of the stone slab next to the shrine. This spot is where Ganga is reported to have touched the ground.