VARANASI, INDIA, May 31, 2012 (newstrackindia.com): Thousands of Hindu devotees converged on the banks of River Ganga in Varanasi on Thursday to celebrate the Ganga Dussehra festival which marks the day when the Goddess Ganga descended on earth through the locks of Lord Shiva.
Mahant Brijmohan Das, a priest, said: “Today, is the festive occasion of Ganga Dussehra. Today only, Mother Ganga descended from the ‘jata’ (locks) of Lord Shiva to come down to earth. The Ganga flows in a
north direction in ‘Kashi’ (ancient name of Varanasi city). This is why, in Kashi, this day is significant. Those devotees, who took a holy dip in Ganga River, will get rid of all their sins.”
Priests performed traditional Hindu rituals and chanted hymns on the banks of the river. Thousands of devotees assembled from the crack of the dawn to take a holy dip and sought the blessings of the Goddess Ganga.