Ganga Dashahara

The river Ganges is seen as a form of goddess Ganga Mata or Ganga Devi or Ganga Maiya and is legally a living entity. It is considered as one of the holiest rivers from time immemorial.  Right from the Vedas, the Puranas, the Ramayan, the Mahabharatha and in most of the epics related to Hinduism and India, the Ganges has a special mention. Legend has it that king Bhagiratha, through sheer hard penance, brought down this Holy River to Earth from Heaven, to wash away the sins of his 60,000 ancestors who were killed due to a curse from sage Kapila for disturbing his meditation. From then on, it is believed that Gangajal or the water of the Ganges cleanses all sins, and he who takes a dip, touches or even looks upon this holy river, receives heavenly blessings.

Ganga Dashahara is the day when king Bhagiratha brought down the Ganges to Earth. The literal meaning being Dasha = Ten and Hara = to destroy, which means a soak in the Ganges on this auspicious day will eliminate ten lifetimes worth of sins. The celebration starts ten days prior to the eve of Ganga Dashahara.

On the day of the festival, devotees take a dip in the holy river early in the morning and take back home some clay and holy water for pooja. The priests perform aartis to goddess Ganga amidst hundreds and thousands of pilgrims throughout the day. In the evening, devotees offer leaf boats with flames, sweet and flowers to the river. Big fairs are also organized at the celebration venue during this day.

So why wait, get yourself drenched in the spiritual rain of beautiful shlokas, bhajans, kirtans, bell sounds and aartis praising the goddess Ganga at the major ghats of Varanasi, Allahabad, Garh-Mukteshwar, Prayag, Haridwar and Rishikesh.