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EMBLEM OF UTTAR PRADESH Uttar Pradesh (Northern Province) was the cradle of Hindu civilization. The region is the geographical area of the Middle Land or the Madya desha from the Mahabharata and Ramayana epics. In the twelfth century AD, the valley of the Ganges was conquered by the Mughals. With the disintegration of their Empire, some governors or nawabs succeeded to gain considerable autonomy. The state emblem dates from the time of the United Provinces. It represents the confluence of the Ganges and the Jumna, symbolized by a pall wavy, between two fishes which is a Buddhist symbol signifying freedom from restraint and the life-giving properties of water which were originally symbolizing the two rivers. Between the arms of the pall there is a bow and arrow, the arms of the heroes of the Mahabharata. The emblem is similar to the ancient emblem of the last Nawabs of Awadh where fish occur in their motifs.