geo.wikisort.org - River

The Punpun River is a tributary of the Ganges. It originates in Palamu district of Jharkhand and flows through Chatra, Aurangabad, Gaya and Patna districts of the Indian states of Jharkhand and Bihar.[1] Punpun is a place named after the Punpun river in Patna which is situated on the bank of Punpun river. On the bank of Punpun people celebrate Chhath Puja.

Punpun River
Punpun at Obra
Location
Country	India
State	Jharkhand, Bihar
City	Obra
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Palamu district, Chota Nagpur Plateau, Jharkhand
• coordinates	24°11′N 84°9′E
• elevation	300 m (980 ft)
Mouth	Ganges
• location	Fatuha
• coordinates	25°30′50″N 85°17′46″E
Length	200 km (120 mi)
Basin size	8,530 km2 (3,290 sq mi)

Course

The Punpun originates on the Chota Nagpur Plateau, at an elevation of 300 metres (980 ft), The river mostly flows in a north-east direction and joins the Ganges at Fatuha, 25 kilometres (16 mi) downstream of Patna.[2]

Many towns such as Sigori are located on the banks of the river.

Tributaries

The main tributaries of the Punpun are – the Butane, the Madar and the Mohar.[2]

Other features

The 200 kilometres (120 mi) long river is mostly rainfed and carries little water in the dry season. However, during rains, the Punpun often causes heavy flood damages east of Patna city. The catchment area of the Punpun is 8,530 square kilometres (3,290 sq mi). Agricultural area in the Punpun basin is about 5,000 square kilometres (1,900 sq mi). The average annual rainfall for the basin is 1,181 millimetres (46.5 in).[2]

Religious significance

This river is mentioned in the Vayu and the Padma Puranas in connection with Gaya Mahatmya as the punah-punah (again and again) of which Pun-Pun is the colloquial form. The river might have been called by this name because it was frequently in spate.^{[citation needed]} The Puranas interpret the word punah-punah in a spiritual sense that sins are removed again and again by offering oblations to forefathers in the river.[3][4]

References

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