Ganga Dussehra

Ganga Dussehra , also known as Gangavataran is celebrated on the tenth day (Dashami) of the waxing moon in the Hindu month of Jyeshtha.

It is a Hindu festival that marks the symbolizes the descent of the holy river Ganga from the heavens to the earth.

This festival holds deep spiritual significance, as devotees believe bathing in the Ganges on this day washes away sins and brings blessings.

Pilgrims gather at the riverbanks, offering prayers, lighting lamps, and performing rituals, especially in Varanasi, Haridwar, and Prayagraj, where the Ganga is a symbol of faith and tradition.

The Legend of Ganga Dussehra

According to Hindu mythology, King Sagar had two queens, Vaidarbhi and Shaivya, but longed for a son.

He prayed to Lord Shiva, who granted him a boon—one queen would bear sixty thousand sons, while the other would have one.

Over time, this prophecy came true. His grandson, Asmanjh, had a son named Anshuman, who later played a key role in the story of Ganga.

King Sagar once performed the Ashwamedha Yagya, a grand ritual where a sacred horse was released to assert his supremacy. However, Indra, the king of gods, stole the horse and hid it in Sage Kapil’s ashram.

Sagar’s sixty thousand sons, in search of the horse, reached the ashram and wrongly accused the sage of theft. Enraged, Kapil Muni used his divine power to turn them into ashes.

Upon learning of this tragedy, Anshuman sought forgiveness from Sage Kapil, who revealed that only the holy waters of the Ganges could cleanse the ashes and grant the soul's salvation.

Anshuman and his son, Dilip, both tried to bring Ganga to Earth but failed.

It was Bhagirath, a noble descendant of Sagar, who finally succeeded. Determined to free his ancestors' souls, Bhagirath performed intense penance and rigorous prayers to please Lord Brahma.

Pleased with his devotion, Brahma agreed to release the sacred River Ganga from his kamandal (water pot). However, Ganga warned that her powerful descent could be catastrophic for the Earth.

To prevent destruction, Bhagirath prayed to Lord Shiva, who caught Ganga’s mighty flow in his matted locks, controlling her force before releasing her in a gentle stream.

Bhagirath then guided the river to the spot where his ancestors’ ashes lay, granting them moksha or salvation. 

This divine event is celebrated as Ganga Dussehra, a festival honoring the sacred river and its spiritual significance.

It symbolizes purification, salvation, and the blessings of Goddess Ganga, reminding devotees of the power of devotion, perseverance, and the deep connection between the divine and nature.

Celebrations Across India

The festival is widely observed in states where the Ganga flows, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, and West Bengal.

Major celebrations take place in Haridwar, Varanasi, Rishikesh, Garhmukteshwar, Allahabad, and Patna.

Devotees gather at the riverbanks to take a holy dip, perform aarti, and offer prayers to the sacred river.

Rituals include deep daan (offering of floating diyas in the river), recitation of Vedic hymns, and distribution of prasad.

In Varanasi, the famous Dashashwamedh Ghat comes alive with a grand maha aarti, while in Patna, priests conduct a special evening aarti at Gandhi Ghat.

In some regions, an 1100-meter garland is offered to the river as a mark of devotion.