Ganga Dussehra 2023: Celebrated on the tenth day of Jyestha Shukla Paksha, this festival marks the appearance of Goddess Ganga on earth. Every year Ganga Dussehra is celebrated with great pomp and grandeur all over the country. Varanasi is especially known for the celebration of Ganga Dussehra. Devotees take a bath in the holy water of the Ganges and celebrate the day. This year Ganga Dussehra is being celebrated on 30 May. Acharya Indu Prakash tells that it was due to the hard penance of King Bhagirath that Ganga Maiya’s arrival on earth became possible. However, as the earth did not have the strength to bear the velocity of the Ganges, Lord Shiva placed her between his hairs, so that the water of the Ganges could be available on the earth in the form of a stream. This is the reason why worship of Lord Shiva along with Mother Ganga is equally important on this day. If you are unaware of the significance of this day and the measures that should be taken, read below!
Bathing in this Ganga river gives freedom from sinful deeds and auspicious results, but if a person cannot bathe in the river Ganga, he can bathe in any other holy river while meditating on Ganga Maiya. Is. And if this is not possible for you, then add a little Ganga water to your bath water.
Ganga Dussehra 2023: Date and Time
- Dashami date starts – 11:49 AM – 29 May 2023
- Dashami Tithi Ends – 01:07 PM – May 30, 2023
- Hasta Nakshatra Begins -04:29 AM – May 30, 2023
- Hasta Nakshatra Ends – 06:00 AM – May 31, 2023
- Vyatipata Yoga Begins – 08:55 PM – May 30, 2023
Significance of Ganga Dussehra 2023:
According to the Puranas, when Mother Ganga comes to earth after the penance of Bhagirath, that day was the tenth day of Jyeshtha Shukla Paksha. The day of Ganga Mata’s descent on earth came to be known as Ganga Dussehra. On this day, the person who recites Ganga Stotra while standing in the river Ganga, gets freedom from all his sins. There is a Ganga Stotra named Dussehra in Skanda Purana. If you cannot go to the Ganges, you can take a bath in a river or pond near the house while meditating on the Ganges. Worship should be done with Shodashopachar while meditating.
Ganga Dussehra 2023 Mantras:
After meditation this mantra should be chanted:
“Om Namah Shivay Narayanay Dussehraya Gangai Namah.” After this chant “Om Namo Bhagavate Om Hree Shree Hili Hili Milli Milli Gange Maa Pavya Pavya Swaha.”
The name of Bhagirathi should be worshiped along with the mantra to bring Ganga to earth by offering five flowers to the mantra. Along with this, the place of origin of Ganga should also be remembered. In the worship of Ganga ji, all the things should be of ten types. Like there should be ten types of flowers, ten fragrances, ten lamps, ten types of naivedya, ten betel leaves, ten types of fruits.
If you want to donate after the puja, donate only ten things, as it is considered good, but the donation of barley and sesame should be of sixteen handfuls. Dakshina should also be given to ten Brahmins. While bathing in the Ganges, B should take a dip ten times.
Ganga Dussehra 2023 Story:
In ancient times, the king of Ayodhya was Sagar. Maharaj Sagar had sixty thousand sons. Once Sagar Maharaj thought of performing Ashwamedh Yagya and left the horse of Ashwamedh Yagya. King Indra wanted to make this yagya unsuccessful and he hid Ashwamedha’s horse in Maharishi Kapil’s hermitage. King Sagar’s sixty thousand sons reached the hermitage in search of this horse and started shouting as soon as they saw the horse. This broke Maharishi Kapil’s penance and as soon as he opened his eyes, not a single one of the sixty thousand sons of King Sagar was left alive. All were burnt to ashes.
King Sagar, followed by Anshuman and then Maharaj Dilip, all three did severe penance for the salvation of the dead souls so that they could bring Ganga to earth but could not succeed and gave up their lives. The Ganga had to be brought because all the water on earth had been consumed by sage Agastya and there was no river left for the peace and offering of the ancestors.
Maharaj Dilip’s son became Bhagirath, he did severe penance to bring Ganga to earth and one day Brahma appeared pleased with his penance and asked Bhagirath to ask for a boon, then Bhagirath took Ganga ji with him to earth. Brahma ji said that I will send Ganga with you but will she be able to bear her very high speed? For this you should take shelter of Lord Shiva as he will help you.
Now Bhagirath does penance to Lord Shiva by standing on one leg. Pleased with Bhagirath’s penance, Lord Shiva agreed to stop Ganga ji in his hair. Stopping Ganga in her hair, she leaves a lock of hair towards the earth. Thus Bhagirath succeeds in liberating his ancestors from the waters of the Ganges.