Ganga Dussehra: the worship day of the holy Ganges river

The Hindu religion is known for its vibrant and colorful celebrations. One of them is the Ganga Dussehra (or Gangavataran), the day to worship the holy Ganges River (or Ganges River) and bathing in the Ganges waters. 

Ganga Dussehra is celebrated on the tenth day (Dussehra) of the lunar month of Jyeshtha*, usually falling in May or June (on the Gregorian calendar).

*Jyeshtha is a month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Jyestha is the third month of the year.

This year, it happens on the 16th of July.

What is the symbolism? The Hindus believe that the Ganges river descended from heaven to earth on this celebration day, which they called “Avatarana”, the hindi word for “landing”. The meaning of this Ganges River “avatarana” is to bring blessings and spiritual purification to humanity.

A summary about this celebratory date:

Ganga Dussehra
Date: May-June (Gregorian calendar).

Cultural link: Hindu festival.

Significance: Ganges river descended from heaven to earth bringing blessings.

Celebration: Offer prayings and flowers, bathe in the Ganges River, and perform rituals along the riverbank.  

Where is celebrated: Alongside the river flow, mainly in the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, and West Bengal. 

Duration: 10 days.

But to properly value the significance of this date, we need to understand the importance of Ganges river to Hindu and Indian people.

The Ganges River to Hindu Culture

You may have heard about people bathing in the Ganges water, even though the water quality parameters are not good and the poor basic sanitation being an environmental issue in India. Industrialization and the Hindu ritual of cremation on the sands, and banks of the river contributes to this pollution.

Still, why is the Ganges river so sacred to Hindu culture and worth a dip in celebration dates? The explanation relies on Hindu mythology, bringing beliefs among which we can mention:

• Hindu scriptures say the Ganges River descended from heaven to earth  through the prayers of king Hindu Bhagirath to Lord Shiva. He asked for the Goddess Ganga to come down to purify the land and the ashes of his ancestors.
• A Goddess? Yes, Hindus believe that the river has the status of a goddess and a mother.
• The river is a goddess (a mother – Maa Ganga) of purification and forgiveness. 
• That’s why they believe a  dip in her water or a mere touch can cleanse one's sins (only those committed by mistake) and liberate them to a fresh new start.
• Birth ceremonies, weddings, death rituals, and other rituals incorporate a purification in Ganges river waters. Also meditation and yoga retreats happen alongside the riverbank.

The Ganges River Flow

On the map below, we can see the Ganges River Flow. The celebration of Ganga Dussehra happens alongside this flow, in the 5 states (in red capital letter) and mainly in some communities closer to the river, such as Haridwar, Varanasi, Garhmukteshwar, Rishikesh, Allahabad, and Patna (yellow dots).
The city of Varanasi, in particular, is renowned for its vibrant festivities during Ganga Dussehra.

How is Ganga Dussehra celebrated?‍

The festival lasts for a total of ten days. On the tenth day, the Ganga Dussehra day, devotees offer prayers to Goddess Ganga and take holy dip in the waters with the faith of clean sins and all the negativity, purifying body, soul and mind. Some offer presents, such as flowers and sweets.

The Ganga Ghats (a set of steps built parallel to the river flow and leading to the water) are decorated with diyas  (an oil lamp made of clay).

Diyas

The ritual, called “the aarti” is performed in honor of the Ganges River, the goddess.

Hindu religion in the global scenario‍

Hindu is a very concentrated religion in the global scenario: more than 99% reside in the Asia-Pacific region. Compared to other religions, Hinduism represents 15% of the global population, according to Pew Research Center data.

As you must already conclude from this article, the majority of Hindus (94%) live in one country, India. Followed by Nepal and Bangladesh. 

Hinduism includes two major traditions: Vaishnavism, which is devoted to worship of the god Vishnu, and Shaivism, organized around worship of the god Shiva.

Despite the pollution problem of the Ganges river waters, this is a very traditional religious celebration in India, and one of the most important Hindu festivals. 

In the translation field, we know the importance of respecting the beliefs of each culture, even when they do not resonate with ours. 

After knowing all the spiritual symbolism, would you take a dip in the Ganges river when visiting India?