Traditionally, temples across India have two images on either side of the entrance: Ganga and Yamuna. The two river-goddesses transform the temple into a ‘tirtha’ or ford, a holy place that connects the human world to the divine world.

The two goddesses are visualised as voluptuous pot-carrying damsels, almost twins. The only difference is the animals they ride on, the vahanas. Ganga is visualised as riding the famous fresh water Ganga dolphin (makara) while Yamuna is visualised as riding a turtle (kurma). These images reveal the difference in their personalities.