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The Legend Surrounding Ganga Dussehra
Kamlesh Tripathi
Celebrated on Dashami, the tenth day of the waxing moon (Shukla Paksha) in the Hindu month of Jyeshtha, the Ganga Dussehra, also known as Gangavataran, is one of the most revered festivals in Hinduism. It continues for ten days and commemorates the divine descent of the holy river Ganga from heaven to earth.
The festival is observed with immense enthusiasm in all the states through which the River Ganga flows. Holy cities such as Haridwar, Varanasi, Rishikesh, Prayagraj, and Patna come alive with pilgrims, devotional songs, lamps floating on the river, and the picturesque evening aartis. Devotees take a holy dip in the Ganga, believing that her sacred waters would purify their body, mind, and soul. The twinkling diyas drifting across the river under the night sky create a spectacle of unmatched spiritual beauty.
On this occasion, even the sacred river Yamuna is worshipped wherever it flows. Kite-flying festivals, offerings of selected fruits, and the serving of refreshing drinks like lassi, sharbat, and shikanji add colour and joy to the celebrations.
The story goes that long ago, there ruled a noble king named Sagar. He had two queens, Keshini and Sumati, but he had no children. He was desperate for heirs, so he performed severe tapasya to please Lord Shiva. Pleased by his devotion, Shiva granted him a rare boon, according to which one queen would bear sixty thousand sons, while the other would have a single son who would continue the royal lineage.
Over time, the boon materialised. One queen gave birth to a divine vessel that later produced sixty thousand sons, while the other gave birth to a prince named Asmanja. Though powerful, Asmanja grew into a wicked person with a dark nature and was eventually banished from the kingdom. His virtuous son, Anshuman, however, remained the hope of the dynasty.
King Sagar later decided to perform the Ashwamedha Yagya, a sacred ritual signifying royal supremacy. A ceremonial horse was thus released to wander freely across kingdoms. But Indra, fearing King Sagar’s growing power, secretly stole the horse and hid it near the hermitage of Kapil Muni.
Sixty thousand sons of King Sagar went searching for the horse. In their impatience and anger, they accused Kapil Muni of theft while he sat deep in meditation. Disturbed and angered by their disrespect, the sage opened his fiery eyes and reduced all the sixty thousand princes to ashes.
When the tragic news reached King Sagar, he sent his grandson Anshuman to seek forgiveness and recover the horse. Kapil Muni forgave him but revealed that only the holy waters of the Ganga could liberate the souls of the dead princes. Anshuman tried but failed to bring Ganga to earth. Even his son Dilip could not succeed.
Finally, it was Bhagirath, whose determination bore results. He undertook severe penance for years to invoke Goddess Ganga. The goddess agreed to descend but warned that the impact of her drop from heaven would shatter the earth. Bhagirath then prayed to Lord Shiva for help.
Lord Shiva agreed and stood upon the Himalayas to receive the mighty river. River Ganga descended from heaven with a thunderous force. Shiva caught her in his divine jatas (matted locks) and gently released her to mankind as a calm, life-giving river. Guided by Bhagirath, the sacred waters finally reached the ashes of King Sagar’s sons and granted them salvation.
Thus, the mighty Ganga not only became a river, but a symbol of eternal spiritual flow. Even today, whenever devotees stand before the sacred river with folded hands, they remember Bhagirath’s perseverance and Lord Shiva’s grace that brought heaven to earth.
Ganga Dussehra takes you back to those times when Bhagirath’s tireless efforts and determination brought Ganga to Mother Earth. The descent of Ganga symbolises the descent of purity into human life, washing away ignorance and ego. Lord Shiva’s role teaches balance and restraint. Even the most powerful force must be guided with wisdom and compassion.
The sacred river Ganga continues to nourish millions, spiritually and physically, reminding mankind that rivers are not merely waterways but living symbols of culture, civilisation, and divine grace.
Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi
Author, Poet, & Columnist
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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com
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