GANGA DUSSHERA
Ganga Dussehra, also known as Ganga Dashami, is a Hindu festival that celebrates the descent of the Ganges River on Earth. It is observed on the tenth day of the waxing moon (Shukla Paksha) in the Hindu month of Jyeshtha, which typically falls in May or June.
According to Hindu mythology, the Ganges River is considered sacred and is believed to have descended from heaven to cleanse the sins of humanity. Ganga Dussehra marks the day when the river is believed to have descended to Earth.
During this festival, devotees gather at various ghats (riverbanks) along the Ganges and other sacred rivers to take a dip in the holy waters. They perform rituals, offer prayers, and seek blessings. Taking a bath in the Ganges on this day is believed to wash away sins and bring spiritual purification.
People also make offerings of flowers, diyas (oil lamps), and coconuts to the river. Special puja ceremonies are conducted by priests, and hymns and prayers are chanted in praise of the river goddess Ganga.
Ganga Dussehra holds great significance in Hinduism, especially for those living along the banks of the Ganges. It is believed that by participating in this festival and offering prayers to the Ganges, one can attain moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death) and be absolved of their sins.
The celebration of Ganga Dussehra varies in different regions of India. In places like Haridwar, Varanasi, and Allahabad, where the Ganges holds immense spiritual importance, the festival is observed with great fervor and enthusiasm. Thousands of devotees gather to take part in the festivities and seek blessings from the sacred river.
Overall, Ganga Dussehra is a significant festival that highlights the spiritual and cultural reverence towards the Ganges River and its divine nature in Hinduism.
STORY BEHIND GANGA DUSSHERA
The story behind Ganga Dussehra is rooted in Hindu mythology and centers around the descent of the Ganges River from heaven to Earth. The story is often associated with King Bhagiratha, who played a crucial role in bringing the Ganges to Earth. According to the ancient scriptures, there was a powerful king named Sagara, who ruled over Ayodhya. He had sixty thousand sons and performed a horse sacrifice (Ashwamedha Yagna) to establish his supremacy. However, during the ceremony, the horse was stolen by the sage Kapila, who was deep in meditation.
King Sagara's sons were sent to search for the horse, and in their quest, they disturbed the sage's meditation. Enraged, Kapila burned all sixty thousand sons to ashes. The souls of the sons could not attain salvation, as their bodies were not cremated in sacred water. Many generations later, King Bhagiratha, a descendant of King Sagara, was determined to bring salvation to his ancestors' souls. He performed intense penance and meditated for many years to please Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe.
Impressed by Bhagiratha's devotion and persistence, Lord Brahma granted him a boon. Bhagiratha requested that the Ganges be brought down to Earth to purify the ashes of his ancestors and grant them liberation. However, bringing the mighty river to Earth was no easy task. Bhagiratha knew that the force of the descending Ganges would be too powerful for the Earth to withstand. So, he sought the help of Lord Shiva, the destroyer and one of the Hindu Trinity.
Lord Shiva agreed to bear the immense force of the Ganges on his head. As the Ganges descended from the heavens, it landed on Lord Shiva's matted locks and gently flowed down to the Earth. This act of Lord Shiva is depicted in various artistic representations as the "Ganga atop Shiva's head." Finally, the sacred river reached the ashes of King Sagara's sons and cleansed their souls, granting them liberation. This event is commemorated as Ganga Dussehra, symbolizing the descent of the Ganges River and the purification of sins.
Since then, the Ganges River has been considered sacred and is believed to possess divine properties that can cleanse and purify the devotees who bathe in its waters. Ganga Dussehra is observed to honor this significant event and seek blessings from the river goddess Ganga for spiritual purification and liberation.