Ganga Dussehra 2020

The role of Ganga River in the life of Indians

River Ganga plays an extremely important role in the life of the Indians. It can easily be called the river of life and hold a very sacred position in the lives of Indians. Indians pray to Goddess Ganga to continue to bless them with the ever-flowing holy waters. Millions of people depend on Ganga for their livelihood and as a mark of respect they offer prayers to Ganga in the form of Ganga Puja also called Ganga Dussehra.

Ganga Dussehra is observed during Dashami Tithi of Jyeshtha Shukla Paksha, usually in the month of May or June. Ganga Dussehra is also known as Gangavataran meaning the descent of the holy river Ganga on earth. Usually Ganga Dusshra is celebrated one day before Nirjala Ekadashi but Ganga Dussehra and Nirjala Ekadashi might be observed on the same day in some years.
Ganga Dussehra is dedicated to Goddess Ganga and this day is celebrated as the day when Ganga was descended to the Earth so that the cursed souls of Bhagiratha's ancestors gets moksha. Goddess Ganga was residing in Kamandal of Lord Brahma before coming down to the Earth.

Ganga Dussehra Festival celebrations

The Ganges River flows through the Northern Indian plains after coming down from the Great Himalayas. Hrishikesh, Hardwar, Varanasi are some of the religious cities of pilgrimage through which River Ganga flows. Ganga Dashahara is celebrated for 10 days and people take bath in the holy water of Ganga to purify themselves of all sins.Taking bath in Maa Ganga's water and doing Dan-Punya on Ganga Dussehra day is highly beneficial for the soul. A holy dip in Goddess Ganga's water on Ganga Dussehra day removes all type of sins.

The legend of the descent of Ganga

Gangapujan Dashara is celebrated as the birthday of mother Ganges, also known as Ganga Ma. In the Puranas, Ganga flowed in the heavens. Sage Bhagiratha brought about the descent of Ganga through severe penance and hence the river is also known as Bhagirathi. It is said that in the olden days, some demons disturbed the performance of religious rituals of hermits. The hermits approached Rishi Agastya in desperation. Agastya drank all the water of the ocean where the demons were hiding. But this caused a severe drought all over the world. It was then sage Bhagiratha came to the rescue by bringing down Ganga from the heavens.

People often visit Prayagraj, Garhmukteshwar, Haridwar, Rishikesh and Varanasi to take a holy dip in Ganges. Ganga Dussehra celebrations are traditional and famous in Varanasi. Lakhs of people participate in Ganga Aarti at Dasaswamedh Ghat in Varanasi or Har ki Paudi in Haridwar after Ganga Snan. A person must not confuse Ganga Dussehra with Ganga Jayanti when the Goddess Ganga was reborn.