Lakhs of devotees take dip in Haridwar on Ganga Dussehra
On Ganga Dussehra, devotees from different states of the country took a holy dip on the ghats of Ganga along with the har-ki-pauri in between Har-har Gange and Jai Maa Ganga chants. During the morning, rains could not move of the faith of the devotees. Along with the har-ki-pauri itself, there is a huge crowd of pilgrims on all the Ganga Ghats of Haridwar. Night rains have softened the heat and the weather has also become pleasant in the morning.
Shraaddha was completed on the fixed ghats of Ganga. Besides, Havan and Prayers. Haridwar Ganga Ghat began to resonate from the chants of Har Har Gange from the morning. The bath of Ganga Dussehra has started with dawn. As the day progressed, the crowd of devotees started increasing around the ghats of Ganga. After bathing, devotees performed the Shraaddha at Kushavart and Narayani peak. Offering prayers for ancestors is also of particular importance on Ganga Dussehra. On many ghats, the pilgrims were seen collecting the holy Ganga water. On the ghats of Ganga, devotees also heard the story of Ganga descending on the earth from the priests.
Security arrangements have been made in Haridwar on the occasion of the Ganga Dussehra. However, due to the closure of vehicles many kilometers prior to the ghats, devotees, especially the elderly and the children, are facing huge problems reaching Har ki Pauri .
A diver is deployed along with the police force on other Ganga Ghats including Harki Pauri, Subhash Ghat, Loknath Ghat, Kushavart Ghat. The order of bathing on the Ganga Ghats is being made in place. The ghats are buzzing with the melodies of mother Ganga. Police force has been deployed for security and traffic. With more numbers of vehicles, traffic has all but come to a halt.
Importance of Ganga Dussehra
On the tenth date of the Jyaistha (Jyestha is the third month of the year as per the Hindu calendar) month , when 10 constellations come together Ganga Dushhera is organized in Haridwar. On this day, Bhagirath had brought Ganga to the Earth with his resolve.
It is also believed that Bhagirath wanted to attack Indra. By this same fear Indra prayed to Lord Vishnu and the origin of the Ganges was evident from Lord Vishnu’s feet, but the might of the Ganga was so much that it could wreck havoc on Earth. That is why Lord Shiva absorbed the river in his locks, after which the river gently came to Earth.
It is believed that on this day when when a person takes a dip in the Ganges, his 21 generations are blessed. It is believed that on the present day, the sins of many births are destroyed by bathing and donating virtues in the Ganges. It has been mentioned in the Kund Puran that on this day, the person who donates virtuous yagya on the banks of the river Ganges. He gets the same fruits as doing thousands of Ashwamedh Yagya.
Around 15 lakhs devotees take a dip in the holy Ganga
At Ganga Dashera festival, around 1500000 devotees took a dip in the Ganges from 4:00 am to 10:00 am in different Ghats including Har ki Pauri at Haridwar. SP city Kamlesh Upadhyay said that adequate arrangements have been made by the police in all the ghats.
