Ganga Dussehra

In Hindu culture, bathing in the Ganges and worshipping Mother Ganga is considered to destroy unforgivable sins, but the festival of Ganga Dussehra is considered the best for the worship of Ganga.

Let's find out:

• Why is Ganga Dussehra celebrated?
• What is the significance of Ganga Dussehra?

According to ancient beliefs, Mother Ganga descended from heaven to earth on the tenth day of the waxing moon in Jyeshtha, during the Hasta Nakshatra, pleased by King Bhagirath's penance. In commemoration of this event, the festival of Ganga Dussehra is celebrated. This day is known as the appearance day of Mother Ganga, who is revered for her purity.

In Sanatan Dharma, the festival of Ganga Dussehra holds special significance. It is believed that Mother Ganga appeared on this day.

• Today, people bathe in the Ganges, observe fasts, and perform the Aarti of Mother Ganga.
• It is believed that those who worship Ganga with a true heart on this day always receive her blessings.
• According to the scriptures, bathing in the Ganges destroys a person's sinful deeds and grants liberation after death.
• Performing charitable acts on Ganga Dussehra holds special importance. It is believed that donating something willingly to a needy person on this day yields many times the merit.
• It is believed that on Ganga Dussehra, a person is freed from ten types of sins. Mother Ganga takes away these ten sins on this day, hence the festival is known as Ganga Dussehra.

The scriptures describe Ganga water as equivalent to nectar. Both science and astrology confirm that Ganga water can cure many incurable diseases, including leprosy. Dear devotees, this was the information related to the significance of Ganga Dussehra.

Ganga Dussehra is a very important festival in Hinduism, celebrated every year on the tenth day of the waxing moon in the month of Jyeshtha. It is believed that worshipping Goddess Ganga and bathing in the Ganges on this day can destroy the sins of many lifetimes and bring special benefits.

When is Ganga Dussehra in 2024? In 2024, Ganga Dussehra will be celebrated on Sunday, June 16th.

• Dashami Tithi Begins: June 16, 2024, at 02:32 AM
• Dashami Tithi Ends: June 17, 2024, at 04:43 AM
• Hasta Nakshatra Begins: June 15, 2024, at 08:14 AM
• Hasta Nakshatra Ends: June 16, 2024, at 11:13 AM
• Vyatipata Yoga Begins: June 14, 2024, at 07:08 PM
• Vyatipata Yoga Ends: on June 15, 2024, at 08:11 PM

Other Auspicious Timings on Ganga Dussehra:

• Brahma Muhurta: 03:45 AM to 04:26 AM
• Pratah Sandhya: 04:06 AM to 05:07 AM
• Abhijit Muhurta: 11:31 AM to 12:26 PM
• Vijay Muhurta: 02:16 PM to 03:11 PM
• Godhuli Muhurta: 06:49 PM to 07:10 PM
• Sayahna Sandhya: 06:50 PM to 07:52 PM
• Sarvartha Siddhi Yoga: 05:07 AM to 11:13 AM
• Nishita Muhurta: 11:38 PM to 12:19 AM on June 17
• Ravi Yoga: All day
• Amrit Siddhi Yoga: 05:07 AM to 11:13 AM

Dear devotees, this is the information regarding the auspicious timings for Ganga Dussehra. We hope that your fast and worship on this day are successful and that Goddess Ganga continues to bless you. For more information on fasts, festivals, and other religious details, stay connected with 'Shri Mandir'.

On the auspicious occasion of Ganga Dussehra, as important as it is to worship Mother Ganga, it is equally praiseworthy to recite her divine story. Merely hearing the tale associated with the descent of Mother Ganga on Earth has the power to destroy all of one's sins and bring immense peace to the mind.

So let's relish this sacred narrative related to Mother Ganga:

In ancient times, King Sagara ruled in Ayodhya. He had two queens named Keshini and Sumati. Anshuman was born to Keshini, while Sumati bore sixty thousand sons. Once, King Sagara performed the Ashwamedha Yagna. For the completion of the Yagna, a horse was sent forth, but Indra, to disrupt the sacrifice, stole the horse and tied it in the hermitage of Kapila Muni. At that time, Kapila Muni was engaged in deep meditation. When King Sagara's sixty thousand sons reached the hermitage, the disturbed meditation of Kapila Muni caused them to be reduced to ashes by the flames of his anger. Following this event, Anshuman, son of Keshini, received an order from his father to find his brothers.

When Anshuman reached Kapila Muni's hermitage searching for his brothers, Garuda revealed to him the secret of his brothers' turning into ashes. Garuda also instructed Anshuman that to attain salvation for his brothers, he needed to bring Ganga from heaven to Earth. After King Sagara's demise, Anshuman attempted to bring Ganga to Earth but failed. Similarly, his son Dilip also attempted but could not bring Ganga down to Earth. Ultimately, Bhagirath, the son of Dilip, performed severe penance to bring Ganga down to Earth.

Pleased with Bhagirath's penance, Lord Brahma granted him the boon of bringing Ganga to Earth. However, there remained a problem – after being released from Brahma's vessel, who would control Ganga's flow on Earth? When Bhagirath asked Lord Brahma about this, Brahma said that apart from Lord Bholenath (Shiva), no one in the mortal realm possessed the power to control Ganga's velocity.

Therefore, he begs Lord Shiva to contain Ganga's flow. Subsequently, Bhagirath stood on one toe and engaged in severe penance to invoke Lord Shiva. Pleased with Bhagirath's devotion, Shiva agreed to hold Ganga in his locks. Thus, with Ganga flowing through Shiva's locks, they descended towards Earth.

Though Shiva released Ganga from his locks, her flow remained vigorous. As a result, the hermitage of Sage Jahnu was inundated. Enraged, Sage Jahnu consumed Ganga. After Bhagirath prayed to Sage Jahnu to release Ganga, he granted the request, and Ganga was freed to accompany Bhagirath to Earth. Subsequently, Ganga, upon reaching Kapila Muni's hermitage, liberated all of Bhagirath's ancestors.

Devotees, as you know, it was due to the penance of King Bhagirath that Ganga descended to Earth, hence she is called Bhagirathi. Similarly, due to her emergence from the womb of Sage Jahnu, Ganga is also known as Jahnavi.

This was the information regarding the worship method and observance of Ganga Dussehra. We hope that Mother Ganga is pleased with your worship and absolves you of your sins.

Stay connected with Shri Mandir for more such fasting, festivals, and other religious information.

Ganga Dussehra is a special Hindu festival that celebrates the arrival of the holy Ganges River on Earth. According to ancient stories, the river came down from heaven to wash away the sins of the world and purify people. This event is believed to have happened on the tenth day of the waxing moon in the Hindu month of Jyeshtha, which usually falls in May or June.

The festival lasts for ten days, with each day filled with different rituals and prayers. People gather at the banks of the Ganges River and other holy rivers to take a dip in the water, believing that bathing during this time will wash away their sins and bring blessings and good luck. Devotees also perform various rituals and offer flowers, and light lamps to honor the river goddess.

Beyond the religious practices, Ganga Dussehra is a time for families and communities to come together. Many people organize fairs, cultural programs, and community feasts. It's a festive time filled with music, dance, and traditional food, showcasing the rich cultural heritage linked to the Ganges.

In short, Ganga Dussehra is a festival that mixes devotion, tradition, and community spirit. It highlights the importance of the Ganges River in Hindu culture and its significant role in the lives of millions of people.

Devotees who sincerely worship Mother Ganga on the occasion of Ganga Dussehra are freed from ten types of grave sins. That's why today we are sharing with you a simple method of worshiping Mother Ganga. If you perform worship with this method on the day of Ganga Dussehra, you will receive her complete blessings.

In this article, learn about:

• Puja Procedure of Ganga Dussehra
• Observances on the Day of Ganga Dussehra

• Bathe in the Ganges in the morning. If bathing in the Ganges is not possible, then mix a little Ganga water in the water you use for bathing at home.
• If possible, take a vow of fasting on this day.
• Now, take a wooden platform and spread a red cloth on it.
• Sit facing the direction where the Ganges River flows from your home.
• Now, establish a kalash. Along with it, set up the family of Lord Shiva, Lord Brahma, and a statue of Mother Ganga on the platform.
• Prepare a swastika on a plate and summon Mother Ganga by pouring Ganga water into it.
• On this day, perform a special abhishek to Lord Bholenath, as it was through his locks that Mother Ganga descended to Earth for human welfare.
• Bathe the Shivalinga with Panchamrit and Ganga water, and apply kumkum to the idols of Shiva and Parvati.
• Now, apply turmeric and kumkum to Mother Ganga. Also, apply tilak to the kalash and perform worship.
• While chanting the mantras of Mother Ganga, offer flowers to her. Offer Durva grass with flowers to Lord Ganesha and Shammi leaves, mandar flowers, and bel leaves to Lord Shiva.
• Offer red flowers to Mother Ganga and place various types of flowers, rice, turmeric, and milk in the plate containing Ganga water.
• Now, apply perfume to everyone and light incense.
• After this, light 10 ghee lamps and immerse them in the Ganges. If you are worshiping at home, you can light the lamps in the water on the plate.
• Now, offer fruits, sweets, coconut, and adornment items to Mother Ganga as offerings.
• Then, perform the Aarti of Mother Ganga and offer Dakshina.
• After performing Aarti, apologize to Mother Ganga for any mistakes made during the worship.
• This way, your worship of Ganga Dussehra will be completed.

• Take a bath in the Ganges on the day of Ganga Dussehra. If for any reason this is not possible, bathe with water mixed with Ganga water at home.
• Worship Mother Ganga with a sincere heart on this day. You can recite her mantras and even perform a havan.
• The number 10 holds special significance in the puja of Ganga Dussehra. Therefore, offer flowers, incense, lamps, and rice in multiples of 10 during the Aarti of Mother Ganga.
• In the evening, light lamps on the banks of the Ganges and participate in the Aarti of Ganga.
• On this day, donate 10 fruits, 10 lamps, 10 seers of flour, and 10 seers of sesame to a Brahmin or a needy person.

Devotees, this was information about the puja procedure and observances of Ganga Dussehra. We hope that Mother Ganga is pleased with your worship and absolves you of your sins. Stay connected with Shri Mandir for more such fasting, festivals, and other religious information.