Ganga Dussehra Festival

Ganga Dussehra is a festival for worshiping River Ganga. People take a ritual bath in the sacred river and cleanse their souls. After the holy bath they meditate on the banks of River Ganga. Ganga Dussehra is celebrated to mark the day when River Ganga descended from Heaven to earth by the efforts of Bhagiratha.

The Ganga Dussehra, celebrated every year on Dashmi of the Shukla Paksha in the Jyeshtha month of the Hindu calendar, is a celebration of the Goddess’ arrival on Earth from Heaven.

Ganga Dussehra is celebrated at major ghats of India such as Varanasi, Allahabad, Garh-Mukteshwar, Prayag, Haridwar and Rishikesh. Amidst hundreds and thousands of pilgrims, the priests perform aartis to goddess Ganga. Another priest beside him poured water on his heavily cloth wrapped hand, which protected him from the burns. All one can hear is pilgrims and pundits praising and singing goddess Ganga. The air around had the fragrance of flowers.

The Ghat stairs are very slippery as the several devotees take a dip in Ganga. By twilight, the river starts flowing with immense force. But, this doesn’t stop the pilgrims to take a dip. It is said that after one dip, your mind turns clear and quiet. Most of the pilgrims around always take this feeling back home.