Shree Ganga Dussehra 2024: Time, Vidhi, And Significance

Ganga Dussehra 2024 holds a special significance in Indian culture. India is a country of festivals where every festival is celebrated with happiness and joy. The festivals in India are not just religious activities but are linked with life and celebration. Among the celebrations, Shree Ganga Dussehra 2024 holds a special significance.

On Sunday, June 16, 2024, Ganga Dussehra, also known as Ganga Gangavatara/Jeth Ka Dussehra, will occur. The River Ganga (Ganges) is honoured during this festival. To lift a curse on the ancestors of King Bhagirath, Mother Ganga descended to earth on this day.

It is not the same as Ganga Jayanti, which is a holiday honouring her rebirth. It is stated that Mother Ganga regularly appeased the gods and other deities when she dwelt in heavenly homes. After the Ganga fell, the earth was cleaned and elevated to divine status.

In India, Ganga is worshipped as Ganga Maa or Ganga Devi and is regarded as a deity. This celebration is often referred to as Gangavataran. On the tenth day of the Shukla Paksha (waxing Moon), Ganga Dussehra is observed.

The day of Shree Ganga Dussehra comes on the shukla paksha’s tenth day according to the Hindu calendar, of the Jyestha month, which typically falls in May and June. With Shree Ganga Dussera as the final day, it is observed across ten days. 

Due to their locations along the banks of the Ganga, notable cities like Rishikesh, Haridwar, Varanasi, Patna, Garhmukteshwar, and Prayagraj participate in this festival with fervour. 

It is most widely observed in the states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal. This celebration is also held to honour the Ganga’s flowing water, which has greatly aided in agricultural irrigation.

Shree Ganga Dussehra 2024

Among the Hindu festivals, Shree Ganga Dussehra falls during the Dashmi tithi of Jyeshtha shukla paksha which comes in May or June. This Hindu festival is called by another name Gangavataran which signifies the meaning of Ganga’s descent.

Mostly Ganga Dussehra falls in May or June as it comes before one day of Nirjala Ekadashi whereas sometimes Nirjala Ekadashi or Ganga Dussehra comes on the same day. Click here to learn about Ekadashi Dates in 2024. The main deity of this festival is Goddess Ganga and the day is dedicated to her.

The day of Shree Ganga Dussehra is celebrated as the day when Ganga descended to the earth to complete her mission to release Bhagirath’s ancestors from cursed souls. Residing in the kamandal of Lord Brahma Goddess Ganga brings the purity of heaven to earth.

The rituals of Shree Ganga Dussehra include the worship of Goddess Ganga and taking a bath in the Ganga river. Having a bath in the Ganga river and doing charity on this day kind of Daan punya gives auspicious benefits. It is said that taking a holy dip in Ganga on Shree Ganga Dussehra removes sins. 

To take a holy bath in the Ganga river, devotees go to visit the Tirtha sthal Prayagraj/Allahabad, Garhmukteshwar, Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Varanasi. Ganga Dussehra is widely celebrated in Varanasi. Thousands of Devotees on Shree Ganga Dussehra perform Ganga snan and take part in Ganga aarti performed at Dasaswamedh ghat. 

The day of Shree Ganga Dussehra is different from Ganga Jayanti as this day Ganga was reborn. 

Shree Ganga Dussehra 2024 Date & Time

According to the Hindu calendar, Shree Ganga Dussehra occurs on the tenth day (Dashami Tithi) of the waxing moon (Shukla Paksha) in the month of Jyeshtha. Therefore, it usually occurs in May or June. Ganga Dussehra will fall on June 16th, 2024.

Gangavataran, which translates to “The Descent of Ganga” is another name for Ganga Dussehra. The majority of the time, Nirjala Ekadashi falls a day before Ganga Dussehra.

However, sometimes both Nirjala Ekadashi and Ganga Dussehra coincide on the same day.

• Dashami Tithi Begins – 02:35 AM on June 16, 2024
• Dashami Tithi Ends – 04:45 AM on June 17, 2024
• Hasta Nakshatra Begins – 08:14 AM on June 15, 2024
• Hasta Nakshatra Ends – 11:13 AM on June 16, 2024
• Vyatipata Yoga Begins – 07:08 PM on June 14, 2024
• Vyatipata Yoga Ends – 08:11 PM on June 15, 2024

Significance Of Shree Ganga Dussehra Festival

Shree Ganga Dussehra the Bhavishya Purana claims that someone’s every need is met if they stand in the Ganges river on the day of Dussehra and recite the Ganga Stotra ten times. The ancient traditions also mention that King Bhagirathi worshipped Lord Shiva to free his ancestors and brought Ganga Ji down from heaven. 

Shree Ganga Dussehra is celebrated on the day they delivered Ganga to our world. Hasta Nakshatra saw the entry of Ganga from heaven on Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami. Thus, on this day, rituals like bathing the Ganga, etc., donating grain and clothing, etc., chanting austerity, worshiping, and fasting are performed. Sins are removed by it.

The ten auspicious Vedic calculations associated with Ganga Dussehra demonstrate Ganga’s ability to atone for ten sins relating to words, deeds, and thoughts. Thursday, Hasta Nakshatra, Siddha Yoga, Jyeshtha month, Gar-Anand Yoga, Moon in Virgo, Shukla Paksha, Tenth day, and Sun in Taurus are among the ten Vedic calculations.

One can achieve salvation by offering prayers. It’s a good day to buy expensive products, brand-new cars, or new real estate. On this day, while standing in the Ganges, the Ganga Stotra can be recited to wash away all sins.

On this day, it is thought that a bath in the river may both purify the devotee and alleviate any physical ailments he might be experiencing. Bathing in the river during these ten days is thought to cleanse one of the ten sins, or alternately, the ten lifetimes of sins, as Dasha means ten and Hara means to destroy in Sanskrit.

By performing a personalized Rudrabhishekam Puja on the Shree Ganga Dussehra, one can acquire health, money, and prosperity. 

Puja Vidhi On Shree Ganga Dussehra

If there is no strength in Ganga’s coastal region on this day, take a bath in any nearby house or reservoir’s pure water and decorate it with gold, etc. To do Shodashopchar, engrave the Prashanti idol of Shri Gangaji or sit close to a personified idol before praying to Om Namah Shivaayai Narayanyai Dussehraayai Gangayai Namah, etc.

Then, by presenting five wreaths to the Bhagiratha who brought Ganga to earth, Om Namo Bhagwate, and the Hrim Shrin Hili, Hili, Mili Milli Gange Maa Pavey Pavey Swaha Mantra, worship the Himalayan mountains from whence Ganga originated.

Then, as part of Gangaai Namah, give ten fruits, ten lights, and tenser sesame. Jaggery and grated Sattu can also be added to the water. Donate ten ser sesame, ten ser barley, and ten ser wheat to ten Brahmins, as well as worship gold turtles, fish, and other aquatic creatures, if you can. 

Virtuous Salila Ganga’s birthday is commemorated on this day. Maharaja Sagara devised the strategy to bring the Ganges to Earth. Together, the 60,000 sons of Maharaja Sagara made their work successful.

Vrat Katha Of Shree Ganga Dussehra 2024

Sagar was the name of an ancient monarch who ruled in Ayodhya. Keshini and Sumati were the names of his two queens. Sumati had 60,000 sons, whereas Keshini had a son by the name of Anshuman. The Ashwamedha Yagna was formerly performed by King Sagar. For the completion of the Yajna, a horse was left. 

To end the yagna, Indra took the horse and tied it up at Kapil Muni’s ashram. Kapil Muni was performing atonement. The monarch requested that each of his 60,000 sons bring a horse. When the king’s sons arrived at Kapil Muni’s ashram, their presence broke up his austerity and caused the fire to consume his rage.

When Anshuman arrived at Muni’s ashram and saw his brothers after obtaining permission from Anshuman’s father, Garud ji related to him the stories about his brothers being consumed. Anshuman was also assured by Garuda ji that Ganga ji would be transported from heaven to earth if he desired his release.

Anshuman tried to bring Gangaji to earth when Maharaja Sagara passed away through meditation, but he was unsuccessful. Following this, his son Dileep tried to make amends but failed.

Finally, Bhagiratha, Dileep’s son, travelled to the Gokarna Tirtha to perform penance to bring Gangaji to this world. Bhagiratha’s abstinence pleased Brahmaji, who therefore granted the wish for Ganga to travel to Earth. 

The issue at hand was who would control Ganga’s velocity on Earth once it had left Brahmaji’s body. Brahmaji claimed that only Lord Shankar possessed the strength necessary to control the Ganges’ speed. Lord Shiva should therefore be given preference so that he can control the Ganges’ velocity.

Bhagirath began to worship Lord Shankar by standing on one thumb. Shivji approved of Bhagiratha’s strict penance and consented to control Ganga in his jatas.

Goddess Ganga In Mahabharat And Rigveda

The Ganga/Goddess Ganga is mentioned in the classic epic Mahabharata. She was Shantanu’s wife and the devoted mother of Bhisma, a patriarchal warrior who serves as one of the epic’s primary protagonists.

When her son Bhisma is fatally wounded in the great battle of Kurukshetra, Goddess Ganga assumes a human shape, emerges from the river, and appears to be a mother weeping uncontrollably over her son’s body.

The Rigveda, an ancient Hindu literature regarded as the most sacred of all, also refers to the Ganga. When discussing the rivers that run from the east to the west of our nation, Rigveda’s Nadistuti mentions the Ganga. However, it’s not entirely clear if that relates to the Ganges River.

What Places Shree Ganga Dussehra Is Celebrated

Shree Ganga Dussehra 2024 is celebrated in most of the states of India. Ganga Dussehra in most parts of India in provinces of a cheerful and fiery Ganga Dussehra is generally seen in 10 states of India where devotees come to take a holy bath in Ganga. The festival Shree Ganga is celebrated in below states:

• Himachal Pradesh
• Uttarakhand
• Uttar Pradesh
• Madhya Pradesh
• Chhattisgarh
• Bihar
• Jharkhand
• Haryana
• Rajasthan
• West Bengal

The celebration of Shree Ganga Dussehra 2024 devotees gather at the bank of the river Ganga and participate in Ganga aarti. The rituals (where a light moved in the clockwise direction before divinity as supplication’s piece) to the waterway.

By performing unusual, personalized ceremonies based on your introduction to the world graph, you can invoke Goddess Ganga’s gifts and purge the relative multitude of sins.

Sum Up

This celebration of Shree Ganga Dussehra demonstrates one’s devotion to Maa Ganga. Goddess Ganga is thought to be exceedingly blessed and promising to worship on this day, especially during this season. This is due to one of the tenth Supreme godheads, as described in ancient Hindu myths.

If you want more information, contact 99Pandit for pandit booking to perform puja and rituals at your home. 

Frequently Asked Question

Q. What is Shree Ganga Dussehra’s 2024 date?

A.According to the Hindu calendar, Shree Ganga Dussehra occurs on the tenth day (Dashami Tithi) of the waxing moon (Shukla Paksha) in the month of Jyeshtha. Therefore, it usually occurs in May or June. Ganga Dussehra will fall on June 16th, 2024.

Q. What is Goddess Ganga’s significance?

A.It is said that Ganga water is always pure and forgiving. People say that Ganga water always remains pure and forgiving. During all significant religious festivals and pujas, people sprinkle the pure and holy water of the River Ganga using the ‘Holy Water’.

Q. Where is Shree Ganga Dussehra celebrated?

A. The festival Shree Ganga is celebrated in the states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Haryana, Rajasthan, and West Bengal.

Q. Where can we go to take a holy dip in the Ganga River?

A. To take a holy bath in the Ganga river, devotees go to visit the Tirthasthal Prayagraj/Allahabad, Garhmukteshwar, Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Varanasi.

Q. Why is Shree Ganga Dussehra 2024 celebrated?

A. Shree Ganga Dussehra is celebrated to demonstrate Ganga’s ability to atone for ten sins relating to words, deeds, and thoughts. One can achieve salvation by offering prayers. It’s a good day to buy expensive products, brand-new cars, or new real estate.

Q. Who was the legend behind Shree Ganga dussehra?

A. When Bhagirath did hard meditation to bring the Ganga on earth for the salvation of his ancestors, Brahmaji announced that Gangaji would also be known as Bhagiratha on earth in response to Bhagiratha’s deed.