On The Banks of Holy Ganges, This Ganga Dussehra

The Ganges or Ganga is considered to be one of the four holy rivers in the world which even finds mention in John Milton’s epic poem, Paradise Lost. For Hindus, the river is an incarnation of goddess Ganga and it is believed to bring with it purity of heaven. People from all over the country go to the banks of this divine river and take a dip in it to absolve their sins or to pay homage to their departed loved ones. Rishikesh, Haridwar, Gangotri and Varanasi are some of the important holy cities located on the banks of the Ganga and it is of utmost importance in the lives of the people residing here. Every day here, is spent in the worship and dedication of the river. In fact, in the month of Jyeshta, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and even west Bengal get soaked in festivities, celebrating this holy river on the occasion of Ganga Dussehra, also known as Dasar or Gangavataran. This year, the festival will fall on 18^th June but the celebrations carry on for almost ten days.

 

Ganga Dussehra is an important Hindu festival celebrated by Hindus every year with much fervour to commemorate the descent of goddess Ganga on earth. The celebrations, however, are limited to taking a bath with the water of the Ganges, worshipping Goddess Ganga and giving charity, in most parts of the country. The spectacle at the ghats of Haridwar, Varanasi and Rishikesh is completely enchanting. The evening aarti at one of these ghats is indeed a sight to behold and leaves spectators in complete awe. Beginning before sunrise and stretching beyond sunset, the ghats echo of shlokas and chants of the river. Lighted diyas shimmer and spread the golden-yellow light of divinity and faith as far as one can see. Charity is one of the important elements of the festival and it is believed that daan given with faith and sincerity on this auspicious day brings the blessings of the Gods.

 

One of the special moments when religion justifies itself and opens the way to spirituality; the Ganga Dussehra is a sight to behold, an experience to cherish and an occasion to introspect. Travel to one of the ghats this year and experience the strength of faith. So plan your journey to the banks of the Ganga. Book flights and trains only on MakeMyTrip.com!