The day of the holy Ganga’s descent from heaven to the earth, to deliver the cursed souls of King Bhagirath’s forefathers, is celebrated as Ganga Dussehra or Gangavatara. It is a different festival that commemorates the birth of the Ganges: Ganga Jayanti. Hindu scripture treats the Ganges as sacred, believing the river to have purged the earth of its past sins upon its descent.
Ganga Dussehra 2019: When Is It?
Ganga Dussehra is celebrated in the month of Jyestha, which is between June and July. This year, Ganga Dussehra is on 12 June. It is an extremely auspicious day for Hindus and devotees from across the world make a pilgrimage to Prayagraj, Haridwar and Varanasi to take a dip in the Ganga. Bathing in the holy river is said to absolve one’s sins and misgivings.
The Story Behind and the Significance of This Festival
King Sagara of the Suryavansha dynasty had decided to perform the Ashwamedha Yajna (horse sacrifice) to prove his supremacy. However, Lord Indra, considering the consequences of the sacrifice, stole the horse enlisted to perform the yajna and delivered it to the ashram of Kapila, a sage immersed in meditation.
King Sagara’s 60,000 sons set out to find the horse. Locating it at Kapila’s ashram, they mistook the sage to be a thief and planned to attack him. However, Kapila snapped out of his meditation before they could do him any harm. As a consequence of their disrespect towards a venerated sage, the sons were burnt to ashes.
While returning the horse to King Sagara’s grandson, Kapila revealed that the sons could be redeemed if the Ganga descended on earth and purified their souls with its holy water.
King Sagara’s great-grandson, Bhagiratha, wanted to free his ancestors from the curse. After undertaking much penance, he pleased the Ganges to descend from heaven, but not without a caveat: her currents would destroy the earth. Anxious to deliver his ancestors, Bhagiratha prayed to Lord Shiva who, impressed by his determination, agreed to break the Ganga’s fall in the coils of his hair, thereby saving the earth and allowing King Sagara’s sons to secure their place in heaven.
How Is This Festival Celebrated?
Devotees pray and take a bath in the Ganges on this day. However, if taking a dip in the river isn’t possible, devotees sprinkle some holy water on themselves.
The most auspicious Ganga aarti is held on the banks of the Ganga in Varanasi. Devotees clamour from all around the globe to witness it. Ganga Chalisa is also played on this day and it is said that listening to the hymn on an everyday basis gives one inner peace.
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