Ganga Dussehra: Sacred Waters, Enduring Faith

Continuing our look at global water festivals and celebrations, in this article we look at India’s Ganga Dussehra festival.

Each year, in the shimmering heat of late May or early June, thousands gather along the banks of the River Ganges to celebrate Ganga Dussehra—a festival that honours not just a river, but a goddess, a lifeline, and a source of national identity. While many water festivals are lively or even raucous, Ganga Dussehra is deeply spiritual. It’s a celebration of cleansing, reverence, and humanity’s enduring relationship with the natural world.

A River from the Heavens

According to Hindu mythology, the Ganges descended from the heavens to purify the ashes of King Bhagirath’s ancestors and liberate their souls. Her descent was so powerful it might have shattered the Earth—were it not for Lord Shiva, who caught her in his matted hair and released her gently onto the plains. That descent is what Ganga Dussehra commemorates.

Observed on the tenth day (Dussehra) of the waxing moon in the month of Jyeshtha, the festival typically falls between late May and early June. Devotees flock to cities such as Haridwar, Varanasi, and Prayagraj to take a ritual bath in the river, believing that a dip on this auspicious day can absolve ten types of sins.

It is a festival of prayers, chants, flower offerings, and candle-lit aartis performed on riverbanks. The ceremonies may be beautiful, but they are also a powerful reminder of how sacred water is woven into the fabric of Indian life.

The Ganges: Life, Death, and Daily Rituals

The Ganges is no ordinary river. She is Ma Ganga—Mother Ganges—worshipped as a deity and revered as the holiest of all rivers in Hinduism. Her waters are believed to purify karma, heal illnesses, and ensure safe passage to the afterlife.

But the Ganges is more than just a religious symbol. She supports over 500 million people across northern India. From bathing and irrigation to fishing and cremation, she is a central force in both spiritual and everyday life.

And therein lies the tension: how can a river be so loved and yet so mistreated?

A Sacred River Under Siege

Despite the deep reverence it inspires, the Ganges remains one of the most polluted rivers in the world. Industrial waste, untreated sewage, agricultural runoff, and plastic pollution continue to choke its waters—especially near major cities. According to India’s Central Pollution Control Board, more than 60% of sewage from towns along the river is discharged untreated.

Festivals, including Ganga Dussehra, can inadvertently contribute to the problem. Floral offerings, synthetic clothing, plastic bags, and food waste are often left behind by the crowds. The intention is worship; the impact is environmental degradation.

This contradiction highlights a painful reality: cultural and spiritual practices tied to water must evolve if they are to survive in a time of climate stress and ecological fragility.

India’s Response: The Namami Gange Mission

Recognising the urgent need for action, the Indian government launched the Namami Gange programme in 2014—a multi-billion-rupee initiative aimed at rejuvenating the river.

Key components of the mission include:

• Construction and upgrading of sewage treatment plants

• Industrial effluent monitoring

• Riverbank afforestation and biodiversity conservation

• Public awareness campaigns and community engagement

Progress has been notable in some areas. Water quality in upstream sections has improved. Effluent discharge has decreased in monitored zones. And several Ganga towns have received funding for smart riverfront infrastructure.

However, challenges remain. Population pressures, funding gaps, and enforcement issues have slowed progress in critical areas, particularly downstream. Behavioural change, not just infrastructure, will be essential to the river’s long-term survival.

Changing the Way We Celebrate

One of the most encouraging trends in recent years has been the shift towards “green” observances of Ganga Dussehra. Local authorities in cities like Rishikesh and Varanasi have introduced biodegradable offering kits, set up waste bins along the ghats (riverfront steps), and run public awareness campaigns on plastic pollution.

Temples and NGOs are also playing a role. Some distribute clay lamps instead of paraffin ones. Others encourage symbolic rituals using small amounts of water at home, reducing the need for mass river gatherings.

These measures are not about diluting tradition. They are about protecting it. If the sanctity of Ma Ganga is to be preserved, the rituals that honour her must also evolve to reflect a changing world.

Faith, Flow and the Future

What makes Ganga Dussehra so compelling is its ability to bind together faith, ecology, and national consciousness. The festival is not just about remembering a mythological descent; it’s about reflecting on our responsibilities as stewards of nature.

The Ganges tells a larger story—of how societies have always looked to water not just for survival, but for meaning. She is a metaphor for purity, yet she reveals our pollution. She is worshipped for her abundance, even as that abundance is under threat.

Carrying the Sacred Forward

The rituals of Ganga Dussehra are thousands of years old, but their relevance has never been greater. In a time of rising global water insecurity, this sacred festival reminds us that water is not merely a resource—it is a relationship. One built on gratitude, respect, and responsibility.

Preserving the Ganges is not just a matter of infrastructure or policy. It is a matter of culture and will. If India, a country of over a billion people, can restore its most sacred river through a union of tradition and science, then Ganga Dussehra could offer a global model for how to cherish and protect the waters that sustain us all.