Ganga Dussehra 2023: Date, Mantras & Pujan Vidhi To Keep Fast
Ganga Dussehra is an important festival people celebrate on the 10th day of the Shukla Paksha of Jyeshtha month, usually falling in May or June. This day is for Hindus as it destroys sins. Ganga Dussehra is also known as Gangavataran. Therefore, on this day, ten sins destroy by bathing in the Ganges, offering charity, and tarpan. According to legend, this is the day when Ganga came down to earth to cleanse the cursed souls of her ancestors and destroy sins. Read in detail about the delightful festival of Ganga Dussehra 2023 and know how to celebrate it.
In addition to its religious significance, Ganga Dussehra is also a cultural festival in various parts of India. People celebrate this day with great enthusiasm and joy by participating in various cultural programs, fairs, and processions. The fair of Ganga Dussehra occurs in various places like Prayagraj, Allahabad, Garhmukteshwar, Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Varanasi. Here, devotees can enjoy bathing in the Ganges. In Varanasi, thousands of devotees participate in the Ganga Aarti at Dasaswamedh Ghat and take a dip in the holy river.
Get ready to celebrate Ganga Dussehra on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. The auspicious Dashami Tithi begins at 06:45 PM. on Monday, May 29, 2023, and ends at 04:21 PM on Tuesday, May 30, 2023.
This day falls under the Hasta Nakshatra, which begins at 09:38 PM on Monday, 29th May 2023, and ends at 08:29 PM on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Additionally, Vyatipata Yoga starts at 05:03 AM on Monday, May 29, 2023, and ends at 02:47 AM on Tuesday, May 30, 2023.
This day holds immense significance for Hindus and all mankind alike. It is so because bathing in the Ganges on this day destroys all sins and helps one attain salvation. So, mark your calendars and prepare to immerse yourself in the divinity of Ganga Dussehra.
Significance of Ganga Dussehra
Dussehra, a significant Hindu festival, holds great religious importance. This auspicious day signifies ten Vedic calculations that demonstrate the purifying power of the River Ganga, which can wash away ten types of sins related to thoughts, actions, and speech. By offering prayers on this day, one can attain salvation and seek blessings from the divine. Dussehra is a favorable day for making important purchases such as valuable items, new vehicles, or new property.
Reciting the Ganga Stotra while standing in the Ganges on this day removes all sins. Taking a dip in the river on this day purifies the soul and heals any physical ailments. Moreover, personalized Rudrabhishekam Puja can be performed on the Ganga Dussehra to gain health, wealth, and prosperity. This ritual involves the worship of Lord Shiva and offering sacred items to seek his blessings.
Ganga Dussehra is a highly auspicious festival people of Uttarakhand celebrate with great devotion. According to Hindu Panchang, it falls on Amavasya. Folks celebrate it for ten days with immense enthusiasm and fervor. The festival marks a series of glorious aartis taking place at the ghats, where devotees from across the country assemble to participate in various ceremonies, including Pujas and Bath Rituals near the riverbanks.
Celebration and Ceremonies: The festival of Ganga Dussehra 2023 is for ten days. Hence, devotees from all over India gather at various holy water spots in Haridwar, Varanasi, Garh-Mukhteshwar, Prayagraj, etc., to participate in the ceremonies. During these ten days, people perform various rituals, take dips in the holy waters of the river Ganges, and offer prayers to the river goddess.
Huge Gathering of Devotees: The sight of devotees thronging the ghats of Varanasi and Haridwar during Ganga Dussehra is a magnificent one. People start taking dips in the river Ganges in the early hours of the morning, and the number of devotees present is overwhelming. The atmosphere is full of pure contentment and devotion and cannot be anywhere else.
Rituals and Donations: Ganga Dussehra 2023 marks several rituals that make people feel happy, content, and at peace. One of the most significant rituals is the chanting of Ganga Chalisa, followed by Vedic poojas in Lord Shiva temples, where people wear Gangaajal lockets. People also visit Varanasi to witness the grandeur of the Ganga Aarti. Additionally, many devotees make donations to the needy during this auspicious occasion.
Aartis and Processions: A major highlight of the Ganga Dussehra celebration is the grand aartis and processions held at various ghats of the River Ganges. The aartis, performed with devotion and reverence, create a spiritual aura and bring a sense of peace to the participants. The processions, consisting of decorated idols of deities, are carried on the streets with much enthusiasm.
What rituals to follow during Ganga Dussehra 2023?
Ganga Dussehra is a ten-day-long festival that primarily worships the holy river Ganges. Devotees consider this festival an auspicious time to take a dip in the holy waters of the river to purify themselves of their wrongdoings.
To attain Moksha or Salvation, one must perform ten traditional rituals and customs on the banks of the holy river in the morning to worship Goddess Ganga.
Devotees offer ten favorite items to Goddess Ganga, such as flowers, Prasada (Bhoga), leaf boats filled with flames and milk, etc., to seek blessings from the divine Goddess. Thus, donate ten edible items to the poor and needy on this day.
Fasting for at least ten hours without even consuming water is a mark of devotion to the magnificent Goddess Ganges.
The chanting of ten specific songs and mantras while performing Aartis with bells and conches on the river bank is a significant part of this festival.
Another essential aspect of this festival is setting up ten bamboo or wooden sticks at the center of the river or a water stream, symbolizing the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu.
This act signifies the reverence and respects the devotees hold for the river Ganges.
Ganga Dussehra is primarily a festival people celebrate to worship Ganga and Yamuna. Here are some ways in which people worship Yamuna on Ganga Dussehra:
Devotees take a dip in the holy waters of the river Yamuna on Ganga Dussehra. The ritual cleanses one’s sins and brings good fortune.
Like the worship of Ganga, people offer various items to Yamuna. These offerings include flowers, fruits, sweets, and diyas (lamps).
Devotees perform Aarti to deities. Devotees perform Yamuna Aarti with great devotion and dedication. The aarti is accompanied by the chanting of hymns and mantras.
A grand procession occurs on the occasion of Ganga Dussehra, where the idol of Yamuna/Ganga happens on a decorated chariot or palanquin. Devotees dance, sing, and offer prayers during the procession.
Yamuna is one of the most polluted rivers in India, and on the occasion of Ganga Dussehra, people take up cleanliness drives to clean up the riverbanks and the river itself. This is to show respect and devotion to the river, which is sacred.
Benefits of reciting the Ganga Mantra
Reciting the Ganga Mantra on Ganga Dussehra is highly auspicious and brings numerous benefits to the devotees. Some of the benefits of reciting the Ganga Mantra on Ganga Dussehra are:
Purification of the soul: The holy river Ganga has the power to purify the soul of a person. Reciting the Ganga Mantra on Ganga Dussehra helps purify one’s soul and cleanse one of all sins.
Spiritual growth: Reciting the Ganga Mantra on Ganga Dussehra helps in spiritual growth and development. Moreover, it helps the devotees connect with the divine and attain spiritual enlightenment.
Removal of obstacles: Reciting the Ganga Mantra on Ganga Dussehra helps remove obstacles from one’s life. Moreover, it helps the devotee overcome challenges and achieve success in all their endeavors.
Blessings of Goddess Ganga: Reciting the Ganga Mantra on Ganga Dussehra invokes the blessings of Goddess Ganga. Doing so, Goddess blesses the devotees with health, wealth, and prosperity.
Relief from physical ailments: Reciting the Ganga Mantra on Ganga Dussehra can help provide relief from physical ailments. The holy water of the river Ganga has healing properties. Hence, reciting the mantra enhances its benefits.
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