Ganga Dussehra: History | Significance | Puja and Tithi

Ganga Dussehra is a Hindu festival also named Gangavataran. People celebrate this day because, on this auspicious day, the descent (avatarana) of the Holy Ganges took place from Heaven to Earth. Ganga Dussehra takes place on the tenth day of Shukla Paksha, Jyeshta month. The festival celebration goes on for 10 days including the nine days preceding this Holy day. Dussehra stands for ten auspicious Vedic calculations unveiling Goddess Ganga's ability to wash ten sins related to actions, thoughts, and speech etc. It is believed that people who take a dip in the holy river on this day attain salvation. 

Ganga Dussehra History:

According to Hindu Scriptures, King Bhagiratha was involved in the origin of Goddess Ganga on earth. King Sagara the great-grandfather of Bhagiratha once performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice, but Lord Indra stole the sacrificial horse. Lord Indra had the animal sequestered in Hell, where Sage Kapila was performing penance. King Sagara ordered his sixty thousand sons to find the horse, they found the horse in Hell. They disturbed the Sage with hoarse noises. Infuriated Sage Kapila burnt the sixty thousand sons of King Sagara to ashes. The responsibility of performing the last rites of these sons was passed down from generation to generation until it was received by Bhagiratha, who upon rising to the throne of Ayodhya went to the Himalayas to practice austerities to impress Lord Brahma. Lord Brahma told him that the force of Devi Ganga's fall would be difficult to sustain. Lord Brahma asked him to take help from Lord Shiva as no one except him can sustain her. 

Obeying Lord Brahma, Bhagiratha performed a penance that lasted for a millennium to impress Lord Shiva at Kailash, Lord Shiva granted him the boon, Goddess Ganga's stream rushed upon Lord Shiva's hair, and, Goddess Ganga flowed along the matted hair of Lord Shiva for a thousand years. Bhagiratha performed another penance to please Lord Shiva until the deity shook his hair and allowed a single drop to flow on the Indo-Gangetic plain, which became the Ganges. The river flowed behind Bhagiratha towards Hell. While flowing towards Hell, the Ganga flooded Sage Jahnu's Ashram. Sage swallowed the river in anger. After insistent entreaties of Bhagiratha Sage agreed to push out the river through his ear, which offered the Goddess the name Jahnavi. Later the river travelled along the plain to Hell and performed the last rites of King Sagara's sons. 

Ganga Dussehra Significance:

Ganga Dussehra is celebrated to regard the arrival of Goddess Ganga on this earth. Maa Ganges was residing on the stoup of Lord Brahma before residing on the earth. Therefore the Deity has the purity of Heaven. When the Goddess descended on the earth the purity of Heaven came along with her. Usually, the festival is celebrated a day before Nirjala Ekadashi. Ganga Dussehra is mostly celebrated by Hindus in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, and Bihar where the holy river flows.

Puja and Tithi:

Worshippers take an early morning bath in the Holy Ganges and perform Ganga Aarti in the evening where they offer flowers, Diya, fruits, sweets, and leaf boats. According to Religious belief, all the articles presented to The Goddess should be in the count of ten. For example, ten types of flowers, fruits, Betel leaves, etc. While taking a bath in Ganga, taking ten dips, donating ten different types of things, and presenting food to ten Brahmans.

This year 2023, Ganga Dussehra will be celebrated on 30th May.