There are several celebrations in India. Additionally, people here associate the festivals with celebration and living rather than only religion. They observe Ganga Dussehra as one of the most significant holidays in this nation.
The Story Behind The Festivity
On this day, people celebrate Ganga Dussehra because they believe the Goddess Ganga descended to Earth. She went below to complete her task of releasing Bhagirath’s forefathers’ cursed souls. According to custom, Goddess Ganga formerly resided in Lord Brahma’s kamandal before arriving on Earth. Ganga carried the purity of heaven with her as she fell to Earth. Because of Bhagirath’s intense penance, the Ganges River—also known as Bhagirathi—was given to humanity as a gift. Bhagirath was a member of the Sagara clan. He asked for life to come to earth and for the Ganga River to descend upon it. It proved to be a destructive force, nevertheless. Thus, Lord Shiva was asked to retain the locks by Lord Brahma. Ganges lost its power as a result and became a serene river that supports life.
Not only is the Ganges a holy river, but it also forms the core of India. Worshippers of this river hope for better fortune. People light thousands of lamps in the Ganga River on Ganga Dussehra to convey goodness and harmony. India’s most visited locations for the Ganga Dussehra celebrations are Haridwar, Prayag, and Varanasi. It starts in the snow-capped Himalayas at Gangotri, runs through the torrid plains of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, and joins the Bay of Bengal. In Allahabad, the Ganges River joins the Saraswati and Yamuna rivers. The most sacred place in India is where these rivers converge at Prayag.
Areas that Celebrate Ganga Jayanti
Hindus celebrate the Ganga Dussehra festival mostly in the Ganga-affected states of West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Bihar. The main places of the celebrations are Haridwar, Varanasi, Garhmukteshwar, Rishikesh, Allahabad (today known as Prayagraj), and Patna. Here, followers congregate beside the Ganges River to perform aartis, a religious rite in which they move a light bulb in front of a god in a clockwise circular motion while in prayer, to the river.
Use the blessings of the goddess Ganga to purge yourself of all sins by performing unique rituals that are dependent on your birth chart.
Date and Time of Ganga Dussehra
Ganga Dussehra on Sunday, June 16, 2024
Dashami Tithi Begins – June 16 | 2:32 AM in (India)
Dashami Tithi Ends-June 17 | 4:43 AM in (India)
The Significance Of The Festival Of Ganga Avataran
Dussehra symbolizes ten fortunate Vedic calculations that relate to Ganga’s ability to cleanse ten sins pertaining to thoughts, deeds, and words. The ten Vedic calculations are as follows: Moon in Virgo, Sun in Taurus, Hasta Nakshatra, Thursday, Jyeshtha month, Shukla Paksha, Tenth day, Siddha yoga, and Gar-Anand yoga. One can obtain salvation by making an offering of prayer. Buying expensive stuff, new cars, or new real estate is a good idea today. This day, when standing in the Ganges, reciting the Ganga Stotra can wash away all sins.
People see this day as auspicious for purification and the healing of physical diseases, as they believe taking a bath in the river cures the devotee. People believe that swimming in the river during these ten days will purge them of their ten crimes or their ten lifetimes of misdeeds, as “Dasha” means ten and “Hara” means destroy in Sanskrit.
Rituals of Ganga Dussehra
For meditation and holy baths, the majority of devotees travel to Prayag, Hrishikesh, Varanasi, and Haridwar. Pitru puja is done by people in honor of their ancestors. At dusk, priests and devotees use leaf boats filled with flowers and flames to perform the aarti on the Ganges riverbank. It is necessary to have ten of each item, such as fruits, flowers, or betel leaves, in order to worship the Ganges. One has to take ten dips in the bath.
Ganga Dussehra Celebrations
In observance of the holiday, devotees travel to Prayagraj/Allahabad, Garhmukteshwar, Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Varanasi, where they immerse themselves in the Ganga’s sacred waters. Varanasi is well known for its colorful Ganga Dussehra celebrations. Numerous followers participate in the captivating Ganga Aarti ceremony at the Dasaswamedh Ghat and perform the traditional act of bathing in the river. For those who seek to participate in the spiritual meaning of Ganga Dussehra, this magnificent event is a necessary and unique experience.
