Ganga Jayanti or Ganga Saptami is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Ganga or Maa Ganga. An important Hindu festival, the day marks the rebirth of Ganga on the Earth. Ganga Saptami sees thousands of devotees offering prayers and taking a dip in the holy waters of Ganga at pilgrimage sites like Rishikesh (Uttrakhand) and Triveni Sangam (Allahabad). Ganga Aarti, deep daan and fairs are also held on this day.
As per Hindu calendar, Ganga Saptami is celebrated on the seventh day (saptami tithi) during Shukla Paksha in the month of Vaisakh. According to the Gregorian calendar, the day falls in May. The day is observed with fervour, especially at holy places like Prayag, Rishikesh, Haridwar and Varanasi.
River Ganga is considered sacred in India. Ganga Saptami is celebrated with enthusiasm, especially at places where river Ganga as well as its tributaries flow.
A legend states that Goddess Ganga first emerged from the perspiration of Lord Vishnu’s feet and secondly, she appeared from the Kamandal (ewer) of Lord Brahma.
Another legend associated with the birth of Ganga says that Goddess Ganga took rebirth on earth to cleanse the earth of the sins of the ancestors of King Bhagirath, who was the ruler of Kosala. The King, who was experiencing trouble, had sought the help of deities to get rid of his past karma and to purify the souls of his forefathers. After he sought penance, Lord Brahma assured him that Goddess Ganga will be born on Earth to help him. But it was feared that the surge of Goddess Ganga would completely destroy the Earth. Lord Brahma asked Bhagirath to request Lord Shiva to release the river from his hair to control the flow of Ganga. Impressed by devotion and true penance of Bhagirath, God Shiva agreed and thus Ganga took rebirth on Earth and that day is now revered as Ganga Saptami. Due to the legend associated with King Bhagirath, Ganga is also known as Bhagirathi.
During her transit, the surge of river Ganga wreaked havoc on the hermitage of Sage Jahnu. In his anger, Rishi Jahnu drank the entire waters of Ganga. After his anger subsided, he released Ganga from his ear and since that day Ganga Saptami is also famously celebrated as Jahnu Saptami.
To know about other Hindu festivals, Click here!
Loading, please wait...