Ganga Dussehra celebrated with special aarti in Varanasi; devotees throng ghats, temples
New Delhi, May 26
Thousands of devotees gathered at the ghats of River Ganga and temples across Uttar Pradesh on the occasion of Ganga Dussehra on Tuesday, offering prayers, taking holy dips and participating in elaborate religious ceremonies.
In Varanasi, grand celebrations were organised at Devi Ahilyabai Ghat, where devotees participated in Vedic rituals, conch blowing ceremonies and the milk abhishek of Maa Ganga. Large crowds were seen offering prayers and taking ritual baths in the Ganga on the auspicious occasion.
According to the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust, a grand religious programme was organised on the occasion of Ganga Dussehra.
A special aarti and abhishek of Maa Ganga were performed at the ghats of the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham during the early morning hours. The idol of Maa Ganga installed in the temple complex was worshipped with full rituals amid Vedic chants.
BJP MLA Neelkanth Tiwari told the reporters about the rejuvenation programmes initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clean the River Ganga.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has deep devotion and reverence for Maa Ganga and regards her as a mother. He himself once said that Maa Ganga had called him. With the same spirit, schemes like Namami Gange were launched for the cleaning and rejuvenation of the Ganga," he said.
Devotees in large numbers also visited the Kashi Vishwanath Temple to offer prayers to Baba Kashi Vishwanath and Maa Ganga.
According to religious belief, bathing and worshipping on Ganga Dussehra helps devotees attain spiritual purification and liberation.
Programme Coordinator Dr Pawan Shukla said, "On the sacred occasion of Ganga Dussehra, a grand programme was organised at Devi Ahilyabai Ghat under the leadership of Neelkanth Tiwari. Under the guidance of Acharya Udit Narayan Mishra, 51 young priests performed the milk abhishek of Maa Ganga with 21 litres of milk, conducted Shodashopachar worship, and performed the Ganga Aarti."
Meanwhile, in Prayagraj, massive crowds gathered at the famous Hanuman Temple on the fourth Bada Mangal of Jyeshtha.
Devotees offered prayers and sought the blessings of Lord Hanuman amid the ongoing observance of Ganga Dussehra.
A devotee in Prayagraj said, "Today is Ganga Dussehra. It was on this very day that Bhagirathi brought Mother Ganga to Earth, and after descending to Earth, Maa Ganga blessed and uplifted humanity..."
In Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, Mahant Balveer Giri Maharaj said, "This sacred period holds great spiritual significance, and the worship of Lord Hanuman during this time makes it even more special. At present, the festival of Ganga Dussehra and the period of Nau Tapa are also being observed. Special prayers are being offered to Lord Hanuman, who, as the son of Pawan Dev, is believed to provide coolness and relief during intense heat."
— IANS
Reader Comments
I remember visiting Kashi during Ganga Dussehra a few years back. The entire city feels alive in a spiritual way. Interesting that the MLA mentioned PM Modi's connection to Ganga — true that he's done a lot for the river, but the real test is sustaining it for decades. Happy Ganga Dussehra to everyone! 🌊✨
As a foreigner who's been to Varanasi, I can only imagine how incredible this must have been. The faith and devotion of people is truly humbling. Great to see efforts to clean the Ganga too — hope it continues. 🙏
Beautiful traditions, but let's not ignore the irony — celebrating Ganga Dussehra with milk abhishek while the river still struggles with pollution in many stretches. Faith is important, but actions matter more. Kudos to the priests and devotees for their devotion, but we need more concrete results on cleanliness. Just saying. 🧐
The spiritual atmosphere of Varanasi during festivals like this is unmatched. I've seen videos of the aarti — chills every time. 51 young priests performing milk abhishek with 21 litres… that's incredible discipline and devotion. May Maa Ganga bless everyone. 🙏🪔
Nice to see the connection with Prayagraj and Hanuman Temple too. Bada Mangal and Ganga Dussehra coinciding makes it doubly auspicious. But does anyone else feel these festivals are becoming too politicised? Let's keep the faith above parties, ji. 🙏
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.