गंगा दशहरा

Ganga Dussehra 2027 falls on Sunday, 13 June, the tenth day of the bright half of Jyeshtha, the day before Nirjala Ekadashi. It celebrates the descent of the holy river Ganga from heaven to earth, brought down by the penance of King Bhagiratha and received in the matted locks of Shiva. Lakhs of pilgrims bathe in the Ganga at Haridwar, Rishikesh, Prayagraj and Varanasi. The name “dasha-hara” means “remover of ten”, because tradition holds that a bath on this day washes away ten kinds of sin.

Ganga Dussehra 2027 date

Ganga Dussehra 2027 is on Sunday, 13 June 2027 (Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami). In 2026 it fell on Monday, 25 May. Check a local panchang for the auspicious bathing time.

The story of Ganga’s descent

The story is told in the Bala Kanda of the Valmiki Ramayana, where the sage Vishwamitra narrates it to young Rama, and in the Bhagavata Purana. King Sagara’s sixty thousand sons were burned to ashes by the sage Kapila after they wrongly accused him of stealing their father’s sacrificial horse. Only the waters of the heavenly Ganga could purify their ashes and free their souls. Generations of Sagara’s descendants tried and failed, until Bhagiratha performed such intense penance that Ganga agreed to descend.

But the force of her fall would have shattered the earth. Bhagiratha then prayed to Shiva, who caught Ganga in his matted hair and released her gently in streams. Bhagiratha led her across the land to the ashes of his ancestors, who were freed, and Ganga, called Bhagirathi in her upper course, has flowed on earth ever since.

How Ganga Dussehra is observed

• Holy bath: a dip in the Ganga, or in any river with prayers to Ganga, at sunrise.
• Ganga aarti: grand evening aartis at Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar and Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi, with lamps floated on the river.
• Offerings of ten: devotees often offer ten of each item, ten flowers, ten lamps, ten fruits, in keeping with the name.
• Charity: water, fans, umbrellas and food are given in the summer heat.

The meaning of Ganga Dussehra

Ganga Dussehra honours a river revered as a mother and a descendant’s devotion to his ancestors. It is also a reminder of the care owed to the rivers that sustain life. See every festival on the Hindu festival calendar.

Frequently asked questions