Jamuna

Jamuna is a term used in South Asia to refer to several rivers and, less commonly, as a feminine given name. The most common references are to a river that is prominent in the region’s geography and culture.

In Bangladesh, the Jamuna refers to the main downstream channel of the Brahmaputra after it enters the country from India. It runs through central Bangladesh and serves as a major waterway for transport and irrigation, while also shaping flood dynamics in the region. Along its course, the Jamuna interacts with other river systems, contributing to the Meghna river basin and ultimately draining into the Bay of Bengal.

In northern India, the Yamuna River is sometimes called Jamuna in Bengali and other languages. It is a major tributary of the Ganges, originating in the Yamunotri Glacier in the Himalayas and flowing through states such as Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh before meeting the Ganges at Prayagraj (Allahabad). The Yamuna holds substantial religious and historical significance in Hinduism and Indian culture, though it faces ongoing water management and pollution challenges.

As a given name, Jamuna is used as a feminine name in India and Bangladesh. It appears in various cultural contexts and reflects naming traditions in the region.

See also: Yamuna River, Brahmaputra, Meghna River.