A large number of devotees gathered on the banks of the River Ganga in Haridwar on Monday to celebrate Ganga Dussehra, taking a holy dip in the sacred river amid religious rituals and prayers.
Devotees were seen performing ritual baths in the Ganga, a practice believed to cleanse sins and bring spiritual purification on the occasion marking the descent of the river from heaven to Earth, according to Hindu scriptures.
Priests conducted special prayers at various ghats, while thousands of pilgrims and tourists participated in the ritual bathing and evening aarti ceremonies along the riverbank.
Ganga Dussehra is observed on the tenth day (Dashami) of the waxing moon phase (Shukla Paksha) in the Hindu month of Jyeshtha. The festival is celebrated over a period of 10 days, culminating in Ganga Dussehra.
Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday praised the Kshatriya Kalauta community for its contribution to social service and highlighted the state’s preparations for the Char Dham Yatra and the 2027 Kumbh Mela.
The Chief Minister inaugurated the newly constructed Shri Anand Dharamshala and the Anand Dharamshala Trust in Haridwar.
Addressing the gathering, Pushkar Singh Dhami said the Kshatriya Kalauta community has played an important role in nation-building through its hard work, courage and values. He said members of the community have contributed significantly in sectors such as agriculture, trade, education, social service and national security.
The Chief Minister also urged devotees undertaking pilgrimages to prioritise official registration to ensure smooth travel arrangements during the Char Dham Yatra and future religious events, including the 2027 Kumbh Mela.
(ANI Inputs)
