Ganga Dusshera, also known as Gangavataran, is a Hindu festival celebrating the descent of the Ganges. It is believed that the holy river descended from heaven to Earth on this day.
Ganga Dusshera takes place on Dashami which is the tenth day of the waxing moon of the Hindu calendar month Jyeshtha. The festival celebration lasts ten days, including the nine days preceding this holy day.
Ganga Dusshera Date and Time:
Ganga Dusshera is on Sunday, June 20.
Dashami Tithi has begun as of 6:45 pm, June 19.
Dashami Tithi ends at 4:21 pm on June 20.
On this day, devotees take dips in Ganga as it is believed that a dip in the holy river washes away all past and present sins. People also believe that the water from the river has medicinal benefits and cures ailments.
This festival is observed by Hindus mainly in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar and West Bengal where the river flows.
Haridwar, Varanasi, Garhmukteshwar, Rishikesh, Prayagraj and Patna are the main locations of the celebrations, where devotees gather at the banks of the Ganges and perform aartis (a religious ritual in which a light lamp is moved clockwise circularly infront of a deity as a part of a prayer) to the river.
This year, however, on account of Covid-19, Ganga Dusshera celebrations will not be held. Usually, hundreds of devotees participate every year in the festival.
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