Like any other occasion in Hindu mythology, the Ganga Dussehra festival has its own significance, values, and importance. The following blog will lead you through the journey of this auspicious event.
Why is Ganga Dussehra celebrated?
The legend has it that the king named Sagara had 60,000 sons searching for a lost horse for the Ashwamedha Yagya tied near the Ashram of Sage Kapil by God Indra. The 60,000 sons said to possess created tons of commotion that disturbed the meditating Sage Kapila and anger when the sage opened his eyes. So he burned them to ashes.
He told them the touch of the water Ganga would only give them the Moksha. As per the legend, one among the descendants of King Sagara named Bhagiratha performed austerity to gratify Brahma and send Ganga on earth.
Goddess Ganga then descended to earth in seven streams and washed down all the ashes of Bhagiratha ancestors, and thus, Ganga Dusshera is widely known because of the day when the river descended from heaven to earth.
What is the significance of Ganga Dussehra?
Dussehra signifies ten auspicious Vedic calculations which show Ganga’s power to scrub ten sins associated with the thoughts, actions, and speech. The offering of prayer allows one to achieve salvation. It is a favorable day for purchasing valuable items, new vehicles, or new property. Reciting Ganga Stotra today while standing within the Ganges can remove all the sins.
It is believed that taking a dip within the river today can bring the devotee to a state of purification and heal any physical ailments he may have. In Sanskrit, Dasha means ten, and Hara means destroy; thus, bathing within the river during these ten days is believed to rid the person of the ten sins or the ten lifetimes of sins.
Where is Ganga Dussehra celebrated?
The festival of Ganga Dussehra is mostly within Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, and West Bengal, where the river Ganga flows. Haridwar, Varanasi, Garhmukteshwar, Rishikesh, Allahabad, now Prayagraj, and Patna are the main locations of the celebrations. The Ganga Dussehra festival Uttarakhand has a unique essence.
Here the devotees gather at the banks of the Ganges and perform aartis (a religious ceremony during which a light-weight lamp is moved clockwise circularly ahead of a deity as a neighborhood of prayer) to the river.
Invoke the blessings of Goddess Ganga and obtain to prevent all the sins by following special personalized rituals supporting your birth chart. Devotees of ganga dussehra festival uttar pradesh celebrate the event with hundred percent dedication.
In which month is Ganga Dussehra celebrated?
Ganga Dussehra falls on the 10th Day (Dashami Tithi) of Waxing Moon (Shukla Paksha) within the month of Jyeshtha month as per the Hindu calendar. So, it always falls within May or June.
Ganga Dussehra is additionally called Gangavataran, which suggests the ‘descent of Ganga.’ In most of the years, Ganga Dussehra is widely known at some point before Nirjala Ekadashi. But sometimes, Ganga Dussehra and Nirjala Ekadashi fall on an equivalent day. You can visit our website to know details about ganga dussehra 2021.
What happened on Ganga Dussehra?
King Sagara of the Suryavansha dynasty had decided to perform the Ashwamedha Yajna (horse sacrifice) to prove his supremacy. However, Lord Indra, considering the sacrifice results, stole the horse enlisted to perform the yajna and delivered it to the ashram of Kapila, a sage immersed in meditation.
King Sagara’s 60,000 sons began to seek out the horse. Kapila snapped out of his meditation before they might do him any harm. As a consequence of their disrespect towards a venerated sage, the sons were burnt to ashes.
While returning the horse to King Sagara’s grandson, Kapila revealed that the sons might be redeemed if the Ganga descended on earth and purified their souls with its water.
King Sagara’s great-grandson, Bhagiratha, wished to free his ancestors from the curse. So, after much penance, he pleased the Ganges to descend from heaven, but not without a caveat: her currents would destroy the world.
Anxious to deliver his ancestors, Bhagiratha prayed to Lord Shiva, who, impressed by his determination, agreed to interrupt the Ganga’s fall within the coils of his hair, thereby saving the world and allowing King Sagara’s sons to secure their place in heaven.
What should we do on Ganga Dussehra?
Most of the devotees visit Prayag, Hrishikesh, Varanasi, and Haridwar for meditation and holy baths. People perform pitru puja for their ancestors. While worshipping the Ganges, one must have ten articles, like ten sorts of flowers, fruits, or betel leaves. Likewise, while taking a shower, one must pause dips.
On the Ganga Dussehra, the river Yamuna is additionally worshipped, and kite-flying events are organized. Devotees take a holy dip within the Yamuna at places like Mathura, Vrindavan, and Bateshwar and provide offerings of watermelon and cucumber. In addition, they distribute drinks like lassi, sharbat and shikanji.
Conclusion
There exist no Hindu who is not known to the significance of Ganga Dussehra. Each festival we celebrate has something unique to teach us. We have so much to take from our religious events and pass on to the new generation to keep the tradition going.
