Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami
Ganga Dussehra
Ganga Dussehra celebrates the descent of the river Ganga from heaven to earth, caught in Shiva’s locks to break her fall. It falls on the tenth day of the bright half of Jyeshtha.
2026
Monday, 25 May 2026
2027
Sunday, 13 June 2027
The day at a glance
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Significance
The Ganga’s descent is held to wash away sins: Dussehra here means the ten kinds of sin the day’s worship is said to dissolve. The river is revered as a living goddess.
How Ganga Dussehra is observed
Devotees bathe in the Ganga and other sacred rivers, perform aarti at the ghats (Haridwar, Varanasi, Prayagraj most of all), and offer flowers and lamps to the flowing water.
FAQ
What does Ganga Dussehra celebrate?
The descent (avataran) of the Ganga from heaven to earth, broken by Shiva’s matted hair.
Why bathe in the river on this day?
A dip in the Ganga on Ganga Dussehra is believed to cleanse the ten kinds of sin the festival is named for.
Where is it most celebrated?
The largest celebrations take place at the river ghats of Haridwar, Varanasi and Prayagraj, with grand evening aarti.
Around the same season
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