Ganga
Dussehra is considered to be the very pious festival in Hinduism. It is held
over the first 10 days of the month of June (Jyeshtha), celebrates Gangavataran
– the descent of the Ganga to earth. As we know, Ganga is the most Sacred River
to Hindus which holds a unique place in Indian consciousness. Ganga is
worshipped as the mother who washes away all your sins.
Ten day
celebration takes place in Ganga Dussehra. One can get salvation from 10 of our
sins during this festival by taking a dip or bath in the holy River Ganga. The
first ten days of June are very well justified to honor the presence of Ganga
River in India. You might be confused that why it is called Dussehra? Actually
Dussehra comes from Dus which means
ten and Hara which means defeat.
Thus, it is believed that praying on this day will help you to attain salvation
from 10 sins. Therefore, this festival has got the name of Ganga Dussehra.
According to
the mythology, Rishi Bhagirath, the great grandson of Sagara, wanted to perform
the shraddha of his ancestors but there was no water available for the
ceremony. Agastya having drunk all the waters of the ocean, the whole country
was passing through the adverse drought. On that, Bhagirath took many years
meditating to convince Ganga to come on earth. But the river was very forceful
as the drift of Ganga is unbeatable, thus Lord Shiva decided to take the
gigantic weight of the cascading Ganga on the matted hair piled high on his
head. And this was how the descent of River Ganga held on the earth.
Ganga
Dussehra is celebrated at major ghats of India among which Varanasi, Allahabad,
Haridwar, Prayag are considered to be the most pious places. Around hundreds
and thousands of pilgrims come here to perform aarti to Goddess Ganga. All one
can hear is devotees and pundits voice singing Goddess Ganga. Thousands of leaf
boats laden with flames, flowers and sweets which are offered to the Ganga River
and they flow with the current to the sounds of the bells and bhajans kirtans
and Hymns recited during aarti. The aarti is performed on the grand note where
thousands of devotees come across the Country.
On this day,
if you are not able to visit and bath in the river Ganga, then Gangajal (Ganga
water) kept in most of the Hindus homes is used for purification and salvation.
A bath in the river is said to purify all your sins. The Ganga is revered all
over India even in places far from its course. Every Hindu would have a bottle
or can of Gangajal, water of the river Ganga, in order to commence any Hindu
rituals at home.
