Ganga Dussehra 2027गंगा दशहरा

When is Ganga Dussehra?

Observed on Shukla Dashami, Jyeshtha month. Dates follow the Panchang for New Delhi and can differ by a day in other places — check the Panchang for your city.

What Ganga Dussehra means

Ganga Dussehra, on the tenth day of the bright half of Jyeshtha, celebrates the descent (avatarana) of the Ganga from heaven to earth. "Dasha-hara" means "the remover of ten": tradition says that bathing in the Ganga on this day washes away ten kinds of sin — three of the body, four of speech and three of the mind.

The Puranas list them: of the body — taking what is not given, violence and unlawful relations; of speech — harsh words, lies, slander and idle talk; of the mind — coveting others' wealth, wishing harm and clinging to false views. So the festival is both a bath in the holy river and a reminder to purify our actions, words and thoughts.

It falls at the height of summer, and much of the day's charity is about relief from the heat — water pots, fans, umbrellas, sattu and cooling drinks given to those in need. In our time it is also a day to pledge to keep the Ganga and all rivers clean.

The story of Ganga Dussehra

King Sagara of Ayodhya performed the ashvamedha sacrifice; Indra stole the horse and hid it near the sage Kapila. Sagara's sixty thousand sons, searching for it, insulted the meditating sage and were burned to ashes by his glance. Only the waters of the heavenly Ganga could purify them and free their souls.

Generations later King Bhagiratha performed fierce penance. Brahma granted the boon, but the force of the Ganga's fall would have shattered the earth; so Bhagiratha prayed to Shiva, who caught the river in his matted locks and released her in gentle streams. Bhagiratha led her across the land to the sea, where she washed over the ashes of his ancestors. So the Ganga is also called Bhagirathi, and "Bhagiratha prayatna" means a heroic effort.

Ganga Dussehra puja vidhi, step by step

How to keep Ganga Dussehra by the river or at home.

What you need

• Ganga jal (or clean water) for the bath and worship
• Flowers, a diya, incense, sesame and jaggery — ten of each if you follow that custom
• An image of Ganga Maa (or a kalash of water to represent her)
• Items for charity: water pots, fans, umbrellas, sattu, fruit

When to do the puja

In 2027 Ganga Dussehra falls on Sunday, 13 June. The bath is taken at dawn; the Ganga aarti at the ghats is held at dusk. Check the Panchang for your city. See the Panchang for your city.

Steps

1. Dawn bath. Bathe in the Ganga or another river; at home, add a few drops of Ganga jal to your bath water and recite "Gange cha Yamune chaiva".
2. Worship Ganga. Offer water, flowers, a diya and sesame to Ganga Maa (or a kalash of water), chanting her mantra.
3. Ten offerings. Many families offer ten flowers, ten lamps and ten kinds of fruit, remembering the ten sins to be washed away.
4. Charity. Give water, fans, umbrellas, sattu or food to those suffering in the heat.
5. Evening aarti. Attend or watch the Ganga aarti, and float a leaf-boat diya on the river if you are at a ghat — never plastic.

Offerings & food: Flowers, diyas, sesame, jaggery, fruits, sattu and cooling drinks; ten of each in some traditions

Mantras for Ganga Dussehra

Ganga Dussehra across India

Grand at Haridwar, Rishikesh, Varanasi, Prayagraj and Garhmukteshwar; kite-flying in parts of Uttar Pradesh

Haridwar and Rishikesh

Lakhs bathe at Har ki Pauri and the ghats; the evening Ganga aarti is one of the largest of the year.

Varanasi and Prayagraj

Dawn baths at Dashashwamedh and the Sangam, with special aartis and the floating of lamps.

Garhmukteshwar (Uttar Pradesh)

A major bathing fair on the Ganga, one of the oldest in western UP.

Bengal and Bihar

Ganga puja on the riverbanks; in some places a ten-day festival from Jyeshtha Shukla Pratipada.

Prayers to recite

Do’s and don’ts

Temples to visit for Ganga Dussehra

Kashi Vishwanath TempleVaranasi, Uttar PradeshGangotri TempleGangotri, Uttarakhand

Frequently asked questions