Ganga Saptami 2025

Ganga Saptami is celebrated every year on the Saptami Tithi of the Shukla Paksha of the month of Vaishakh. This date is determined according to the lunar month, so its date in the Gregorian calendar (English calendar) keeps changing every year.

Ganga Saptami as Per Hindu Calendar

• Month: Vaishakh
• Paksha: Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of the moon)
• Date: Saptami (seventh day)

This date is auspicious according to the Hindu calendar, because on this day Goddess Ganga descended on earth. This date falls a few days after Akshaya Tritiya and before Narasimha Jayanti.

**Things to Remember **

• If Saptami Tithi lasts for two days, then Ganga Saptami is celebrated on the day when it is Saptami at sunrise.
• In some years this date falls at the end of April or the first week of May.

Ganga Saptami on Saturday, May 3, 2025

• Saptami Tithi Begins - 07:51 AM on May 03, 2025
• Saptami Tithi Ends - 07:18 AM on May 04, 2025

Ganga Saptami Madhyanha Muhurat - 10:58 AM to 01:38 PM Duration - 02 Hours 40 Mins Ganga Dussehra on Thursday, June 5, 2025

Ganga Saptami is a sacred festival of Hinduism. It is celebrated on the Saptami Tithi of the Shukla Paksha of the month of Vaishakh. It is also called Ganga Jayanti because on this day Goddess Ganga descended on earth. On this day, bathing in the Ganga water and worshipping Mother Ganga is more auspicious.

On this day, devotees take bath in Ganga, observe fast and worship Ganga Mata. People believe that bathing in Ganga washes away sins and purifies the soul. Ganga Aarti and Bhajan-Kirtan are organized at many places. Especially in pilgrimage places like Haridwar, Varanasi and Prayagraj, special crowds are seen. Ganga Saptami is not only a religious festival, but also a symbol of our reverence and faith towards the river Ganga. This festival inspires us to protect the environment and maintain the purity of water.

Descent Day of Goddess Ganga

Ganga Saptami is the date of descent of Goddess Ganga on earth.

According to mythology, 60,000 sons of Suryavanshi King Sagar were burnt to ashes by the curse of Kapil Muni. King Bhagirath performed meditation for their salvation. His meditation pleased Lord Brahma and he blessed Ganga to send it to earth, but its water stream was so fast that it could destroy the earth. Therefore, Lord Shiva held Ganga in his matted hair and then slowly made her flow on earth.

Ganga Saptami is the same holy date when Ganga descended on earth and Bhagirath's ancestors got salvation. Therefore, this day is also called Ganga Jayanti.

Liberation of Ancestors and Destruction of Sins It is believed in Hinduism that Ganga water purifies the body and it is also a medium of spiritual purification and destruction of sins. By bathing in Ganga on Ganga Saptami, the souls of ancestors get peace. It is also an auspicious day for Pitra Dosh Nivaran.

On this day, devotees perform deeds like Shradh, Tarpan and Jal Daan to end the obstacles coming on the family and the ancestors get salvation.

The glory of divinity and purity of Ganga water Ganga water is Amrit Tulay. The water of Ganga is also scientifically pure and full of disease-killing properties. Bath in Ganga on this day gives mental peace, eliminates negative energy and brings positivity in life.

Occasion for Public Welfare and Religious Observance On Ganga Saptami, many devotees gather on the banks of the Ganga and perform mass worship, kirtan, bhajan, and lamp donation. This day promotes the spirit of public welfare. On this occasion of religion, penance, charity, and service, a person tries to give spiritual direction to his life.

Havan, Katha Shravan, Bhagwat Paath and other religious rituals are organized on the banks of the Ganga, which help in the spiritual upliftment of a person.

On the day of Ganga Saptami, devotees get special blessings by worshipping Maa Ganga. Here are the step-by-step rituals of Ganga Saptami Puja:

• Get up in the morning in Brahma Muhurta and take a bath in the river Ganga. If it is not possible to go to the river Ganga, then take a bath by adding Ganga water to the bathing water.

• Clean the temple or place of worship in the house.

• Place a wooden stool in the north direction and spread a red cloth on it.

• Install the idol, picture of Maa Ganga, or a Kalash filled with Ganga water on the stool.

• Put Ganga water, roli, rice, honey, sugar, cow milk and perfume in the Kalash.

• Put five Ashoka leaves on top of the Kalash and place a coconut. Tie Kalawa on the coconut.

• Apply a tilak of red sandalwood on the idol or picture of Maa Ganga.

• Offer her rice, flowers (especially oleander), vermilion, gulal and incense sticks.

• Offer jaggery, white sweets, fruits and satvik food to Maa Ganga.

• On the day of Ganga Saptami, chant the mantra Om Namo Gangaye Vishwaroopinya Narayanye Namo Namah 11 or 21 times. Along with this, recite Shri Ganga Sahasranama Stotra or Ganga Chalisa.

• Perform the Aarti of Maa Ganga with a ghee lamp to end the worship.

• After the puja, feed the poor and donate clothes.

• After the puja is over, ask for forgiveness from Maa Ganga for any mistake and take her blessings.

• Distribute the prasad offered in the puja among the family members and consume it yourself too.

By worshipping Ganga Saptami with the right method and devotion, devotees get the blessings of freedom from sins and attainment of salvation.

Ganga Saptami is celebrated every year on Vaishakh Shukla Saptami. This day marks the reappearance of Goddess Ganga. According to religious belief, on this day Ganga purified everyone on earth with her holy water.

King Bhagirath performed penance for the salvation of his ancestors. He prayed to Lord Brahma to bring Ganga to earth. Brahma accepted his penance, but put a condition. The speed of Ganga was so fast that the earth could not bear its weight.

Brahma asked Bhagirath to perform the penance of Lord Shiva. The king pleased Shiva and requested him to keep Ganga in his Jata. Lord Shiva accepted his wishes and absorbed Ganga in his matted hair. Then he slowly released Ganga on earth.

Ganga came to earth from the matted locks of Lord Shiva. She followed King Bhagirath. On the way, her water sanctified many places. Finally she joined the ocean, where the ashes of the king's ancestors were.

Ganga granted him salvation. Since then Ganga has been called Mokshadayini. Ganga Saptami festival is celebrated in memory of this incident.

Another famous story is also associated with Ganga Mata. This story is related to Lord Vishnu and Brahma Ji. According to the Puranas, Lord Vishnu once drank water and that water became pure and divine. Lord Brahma kept that water in his kamandal. Later, a divine woman appeared from that water. Her radiance and aura were extremely divine and unique. He decided to name that divine woman Ganga

He said that this woman in the form of water will be called as Ganga and she will purify the souls in all three worlds. Ganga flowed in the form of Mandakini in heaven then descended on earth and started destroying sins.

The devotee who remembers Ganga with a true heart The one who does this gets freed from the sins of many births. This story makes the divine form of Ganga even more clear. Being born from the feet of Lord Vishnu, Ganga enjoys a special place and respect.

1. Vishnupadi According to the Puranas, when Lord Vishnu took the Vamana avatar, he measured the Trilok in three steps. When he placed his first step in heaven, divine water appeared from his feet. Lord Brahma took this divine water into his kamandal and named it Ganga. Since Ganga was born from the feet of Vishnu, she was called Vishnupadi.

2. Bhagirathi Due to the conspiracy of Narad Muni, Kapil Muni cursed King Sagar's 60,000 sons into ashes. King Bhagirath performed tough meditation for their salvation. He pleased Lord Brahma and then Lord Shiva so that Ganga could come on earth. Lord Shiva held Ganga in his matted hair and slowly released her on earth. Ganga followed Bhagiratha to the sea and touched the bones of his ancestors and granted them salvation. This is why Ganga got the name Bhagirathi.

3. Tripathaga Ganga is the only river that flows in all three worlds - heaven, earth and netherworld (patalok). In heaven she is known as Mandakini, on earth she is called Ganga and in the netherworld she is called Bhogavati. Hence she is called Tripathaga, which means river that flows in three paths.

4. Jahnavi When Ganga descended to earth, her flow was very fast. She even swept away the hermitage of sage Jahnu on the way. This angered the sage and he drank Ganga with his power. Later, on the request of the Gods and Bhagirath, Sage Jahnu took her out from his ear. Since then Ganga came to be known as Jahnavi, which means daughter of Jahnu. This name indicates that Sage Jahnu agreed to bring Ganga back to earth and accepted her as his daughter.

5. Mandakini The flow of Ganga in heaven is calm and sweet. There she flows slowly and purifies the Gods. Due to this calm flow and divinity, she is called Mandakini in heaven. The name Mandakini tells the calm, beautiful and peaceful nature of Ganga. In heaven, the Gods are purified by her water and she provides them life-giving power.

6. Sursari Ganga is also called the river of the Gods. Sura means God and sari means flowing river. Since Ganga flows in heaven and is the source of purity for the gods, she is called "Suursaari". This name shows that Ganga is not only worshipped by humans but also by the gods.

7. Patit Pavani Ganga is called Patit Pavani i.e. the one who purifies sinners. It is believed that by simply bathing in the water of Ganga, it erases all the sins of a man. It is mentioned in many stories and the words of saints that even remembering Ganga name, it opens the path of salvation. This is why Ganga is called Patit Pavani.

Ganga bath on Ganga Saptami has special importance. Devotees get freedom from sins by bathing in the river on this day. Ganga Aarti and Deep Daan also take place at many places. People purify their homes with Ganga water.

On the day of Ganga Saptami, pure and satvik materials are used for the worship of Maa Ganga. Here is a detailed list of materials required for Ganga Saptami Puja:

• Gangajal

• Copper or brass vessel

• Kalava (Mouli

• Flowers

• Akshat (Rice)

• Incense and lamp:

• Fruits

• Sweets

• Panchamrit: Panchamrit is prepared by mixing milk, curd, ghee, honey and sugar.

• Tulsi leaves

• Kusha grass

• Sindoor and Kumkum

• Agarbatti

• Naivedya (Bhog): Kheer, fruits or other satvik food is offered to Maa Ganga.

• Betel leaves and betel nut

Using these materials, devotees worship Maa Ganga and wish to receive her blessings.