Tulasi Vivah on Uthana Dwadasi

This festival comes on Shukla Paksha Dwadasi, in the month of Karthik. This happens to be the last day of chatur maasa . On Uthana Dwadasi day Lord Vishnu is supposed to get up from sleep. It is said that a year in a humans life is one day to the gods. On Uthana Dwadasi day Lord Vishnu is stirring from his sleep. There are some stories connected to this too.

How to perform Tulasi Vishnu Vivaha

• On this day, Saligrama puja is important and Tulasi puja. In most houses Saligrama puja is performed and brahmin couples are given festival food and Tulasi Vivah is performed in the evening. After food, this couple are given thamboola and a minimum of blouse piece if not sari and shalya is presented along with Kheer Dana.
• For the evening naividya, 4/5 different kind of laddus and sweets are made, and also a flavored milk boiled well with sugar saffron and cardomom added. Koshambari is also made.

• An arathi is prepared as follows. On a plain silver or pithal plate draw a rangoli design with honey using a matchstick or a new toothpick. Over this sprinkle some Gasagase (poppey seeds) all over and then gently tap out the extra gasgase. You will now have a beautiful decoration on the plate. Over this arrange 5 amlas and wicks soaked in ghee over the amlas. 
• For the Amlas in the Arati, make a dough with Haldi posder and water. Prepare equal sized balls and over this place the Amla and the wick soaked in oil. This will help balance the Amlas and prevent them from rolling over.
• Decorate the frontyard of the house with mango leaves and rangoli. 
• Decorate the tulasi vrindavan - draw rangoli in front of the vrindavan. If there no place in the back yard for this , one may keep the pot or a small vrindvan with a tulasi plant near the god, for the puja.
• In the Tulasi vrindavan a small branch of amla is kept, a few amlas have also to be in the branches. Keep a small idol of Krishna in the Vrindavan, next to the plant and perform puja. Light as many lamps as possible. 
• You will need to get ready the naividya, the arathi, sweet smelling flowers, a pair small garlands. 
• Decorate the tulasi and put a few abharana( jewels, like we would decorate a bride). Sing songs and stotras to Tulasi and Krishna and Lakshmi, nd perform the puja.
• After the puja and before the various arathis, offer to the Lord and Tulsi, a sari and blouse and pair of dhotis offer haldhi kumkum and on to plate do the offer Mangala Dravya for Tulasi, then the naividya and the arathis. Puja is to performed with haldhi kumkum etc as we perform Lakshmi puja.

Prayers for Tulasi Pooja

Tulasi Praathane namah tulasi kalyaaNi namo vishhnu priye shubhe |namo moksha pradaayike devi namaH sampatpradaayike ||

Tulasige Namaskara
Yanmule sarva thirthani yanmadye sarva devatha |yadagre sarva vedashcha Tulasi thvam namam mayham ||

Tulasi Dyana
dyayescha tulasim devim shyamam kamala lochanamprasannam panmakalhara varabhaya chaturbhujakiritahara keyura kundaladi vibushitamdhavalankusha samyuktam nishedushim

Tulasi Ashhtottara Shatanamavali 

Click here for Tulasi Ashtottara Shatanamavali in English and Kannada 

The second half of Ashwija maasa and Kartic maasa are the darkest months of the year. Before the times of kerosene lamps and electric lights, it would have been very difficult to sight a village. When lamps are lit and kept in front of the houses in the evenings and early mornings the travellers could easily sight the village.

Amlas are given importance, as the coming months are cold with fog, which will cause cold etc. Amlas are an excellent source of Vitamin C, a preventive for winter ailments in the olden days.

In places where a Amla tree is present, it is worshipped and revered. It is said that every house must have an Amla tree, a parijatha flower tree and a tulasi plant. Some even say that a house without a tulasi plant, is equal to cemetery.

Growing a tulasi plant is not at all difficult only it needs to be watered every day.The plant has also be planted in a fairly big pot or brindhvan, so the plant will space for the roots to spread.

Any plant for that matter is like child. take care of it and it will grow well. The plant also needs to kept in sunny place. In summer when it is very hot, it can be watered twice or shifted to a shade.

Do grow a tulasi plant where ever you are.

How to perform Saraswati Puja during Navaratri?

Saraswati Puja is an important part of the Navaratri festival, especially in South India. Saraswati Puja is observed at different times in different parts of India. The last three days of Navratri is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. Saraswati Puja is also observed in Gujarat during the same period but in a different manner. Below is a step by step guide to how Saraswathi Puja is observed in South India.

In Karnataka, Saraswathi Puja is observed on the Saptami (Oct 10, 2013). The last day of Navratri, which is also the Mahanavami day, is  also observed as Ayudha Puja and Saraswati Puja. Books and tools are placed in the puja room or in front of the idol or painting of Goddess Saraswati on the previous day evening. The books and tools are not touched untill the Mahanavami day and they are removed from the pooja on the Vijayadashami day. On Vijayadashami, you can open the books are read a few pages - this is the day of Vidya Arambha. 

Vijaya Dashami day is considered auspicious for initiating the children into writing and reading, which is called Vidyarambham. Tens of thousands of children are initiated into the world of letters on this day in Kerala.

Requirements

• Image or idol of Goddess Saraswati
• A white cloth (vastram)
• Flowers – louts, lilies or jasmine.
• Mango leaves or other decorations
• Turmeric
• Kumkum
• Rice
• Bananas
• Locally available Fruits

If you are preparing prasada or neivedya – then the ingredients of what you wish to cook. Usually, people make Vade, Payasam using split peas or green gram or simple jaggery sweet.

Getting Ready

• If you are already doing Navratri Puja, then you can use the same decorations etc.
• If you are only doing Saraswati Puja, then get your house cleaned.
• Keep all the books arranged.
• Clean all the tools.
• Keep the computer and laptop clean.
• Everything must be ready by the evening of the 8^th day of Navratri.

On the Saptami day (or Mahanavami for some, ninth day of Navratri), books and tools that are kept for Saraswati puja should not be touched.

Saraswati Puja

Most people do the Puja on evening of the eighth day of Navratri and on the Mahanavami day the books and tools are not touched.

• If you are already doing Navratri Puja, then you can place the idol of Goddess Saraswati in front of your Navratri Bombe display. If not, then you can place the idol in prominence in the puja area.
• Decorate the image or idol of Goddess Saraswati using flowers, garlands etc.
• A white cloth is used to cover the idol of the Goddess. If you are using an image you can skip the white cloth or place it on tray near the image.
• Pray to Lord Ganesha first by chanting a simple prayer.
• You can light the lamp.
• Next venerate Goddess Saraswati with flowers, agarbhatis, incense and chanting any shloka dedicated to Goddess.
• Now that you have invoked the Goddess, you can keep books and other objects that you wish to keep for puja before the idol.
• Sprinkle some flowers on the books and objects.
• You can also apply a small dot of turmeric paste and kumkuma on books and objects; but turmeric stains are hard to remove so do it carefully.
• After this you can place some flowers and akshata (uncooked rice with turmeric) on the deity.
• You can offer the prasada or neivedya that you have made.
• You can chant any shlokas or remain in meditation for sometime.

Some people do Saraswati Daana (offering/blessing) to a young girl on the day which includes dress material, betel leaves, betel nuts, bananas, bangles and cosmetics.

The books and tools are removed on the Vijaya Dasami day after prayers and lighting a lamp.

Mangala Gowri Puja

How to Observe Mangala Gowri Puja?

Mangala Gowri Puja, or Shravana Mangala Gowri Puja, is an important Vratha observed by married women in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and by some communities in Maharashtra. It is performed for a happy married life and for the long life of the husband. It is observed on Tuesdays in the Shravan month (July – August).  Married women observe Mangala Gowri Puja in the first five years of their marriage. In the 5th year, the girl has to gift her mother a vessel with the mangala dravya. 

The method of performing Mangala Gowri puja varies from region to region. This is just to give an idea about the ritual. You can always be flexible in all Hindu rituals what matters more is devotion. And one should not ponder too much over the correct performance of rituals. Number 16 has special significance in this Pooja.

Requirements

• An image or idol of Goddess Gowri (Goddess Parvati) or five pyramid shapes made from turmeric powder.
• Kalasha
• Rice
• Jaggery
• 5 blouse pieces folded in a triangular pyramid shape
• 16 beetel leaves and 16 beetel nuts
• Cotton or flower garland - 16 ಎಳೆಗಳ ಹತ್ತಿ ಹಾರ
• Coconut broken into two halves
• 16 rice thambittu for neivedya and 16 rice thambittu for arathi.  16 cotton wicks are placed into it. Ghee is used as a burning fuel and all the 16 wick of the lamp are lighted.
• Flowers and Locally available fruits 

Preparation for the Puja

House and the puja room or area is cleaned. The shrine area is decorated with rangoli patterns.

House or the puja area is decorated with mango leaf festoons.

All items are kept ready.

The prasada menu or the fruits to be offered is decided.

The Puja

• On a flat wooden platform (maNe), spread a blouse piece.
• Over the blouse piece, rice is dropped in a plate or tray.
• The Kalasha pot half-filled with water is kept on the rice bed. The inside neck of the Kalasha pot is decorated with betel leaves, usually 5 in number.
• In front of the Kalasha, you can place either the silver Gowri or the turmeric Gowri.
• Place a mirror behind the mangala Gowri and 2 blouse pieces on either sides of the mirror folded in a triangular shape.
• A coconut is broken and one half each is placed on the sides of the kalasha on the blouse pieces. Betel nuts and betel leaves (8 in number, 16 total) are placed on either sides of the Kalasha with the cocunut.
• 3 pieces of cloth are folded like pyramid and placed at the back of kalasha.
• A silver glass filled with unhusked wheat and godi is placed on the right of the Kalasha.
• The Kalasha tray can be filled with turmeric, kumkum, sandalwood and other Pooja items.
• If you don't have a silver Gowri, a large piece of jaggery (the four corner one) is kept in front of the kalasha. Now u can place the five pyramid shape made from turmeric powder on the four corners of the jaggery and one in center. You can be flexible here. You can just keep an idol or picture of Goddess Gowri., if there is no jaggery, you need not worry about it.
• Decorate the turmeric pyramid or idol or picture of Goddess Gowri with turmeric, kumkum and flowers.
• Keep a steel spatula smeared with beetel leaf juice ready.

The Puja Begins

• Light the lamps
• Pray to the deity by offering flowers, gejje vastra, gandha/ sandal paste, manthrakshtathe, flowers, and lighting incense.
• Offer fruits or the prasada cooked. 
• Pray or meditate for few minutes – this includes asking for boon to deity during the Mangala Gowri Puja. Special prayer or Shloka is recited called Varava Kode in Kannada. (read below)
• Read or listen to the story associated with Mangala Gowri: Mangala Gowri Vratha and Kathe Audio Link
• While listening to the Vratha Story, light the 16 thambittu arathi. Hold the steel spatula over the lamps to get a black soot. This is collected towards to end of the pooja. Cold ghee is added to this and is applied as kajal.
• Invite women home and offer mangala dravya, rice thambittu and kajal. Pay obeisance to the women, God and the elders in family. By observing the vratha.

Mangala Gowri Shloka or song – Varava Kode in Kannada

A special prayer known as Mangala Gowri Haadu or Varava Kode is recited while performing the Mangala Gowri Vratha and Pooja. During the Shravana Mangala Gowri Puja in Karnataka there is a ritual of asking a boon to Goddess Gowri by women. The prayer or Mantra itself is in the form of asking the boon. The story narrated or listened to during the puja is also known as Mangala Gowri Haadu.

Varava Kode Thayi, Varava Kode

Varava Kode Gowri Varava Kode
Kattida Mangalya Karimani Gaajina Balae
Sthiravagi Iruvantha
Varava Koda
Arishina Kumukuma
Aralu Malligay Davana
Sthiravagi Mudivanta
Varava Koda
Mahadi Maneya Mele
Jodu Thottila Katti
Jogula Haaduvantha Varava Kode
Godana, Bhudana
Griha Dana
Kanya Dana
Maduvantha Varava Kode

Also Read: Mangala Gowri Puja Legend

Mangala Gowri Puja Legend

The various Vrathas that are observed in Hinduism is based on a story. The general idea of the story remains the same but the characters and incidents change from region to region. This Shravana Mangala Gowri Vrata Katha is from Karnataka known as Mangala Gowri Haadu. The shloka or song (prayer) narrated during the puja is also referred as Mangala Gowri Haadu.

Long long ago a boy who was studying under a guru went from house to house seeking alms. This was a tradition then and the Guru and shishya only took what was needed for the day. But strangely this boy refused alms given by the queen of the land and took alms from other women. The king and the queen of the land were staunch Shiva devotees but did not have any children.

The queen and the king discussed this strange incident and the next day, the queen again offered rice to the young boy. But the boy did not accept it. The king came and asked why he was not taking the rice from the queen. The boy said that the king and queen did not have children and it would not be wise to take alms from a couple who is unlucky. The king got angry and said only Lord Shiva can decide who should be lucky and unlucky. The king who was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva soon realized that the boy was Shiva in disguise. He then prayed to forgive his arrogance and asked to be blessed with a child. Shiva blessed the couple but said their child will only live for sixteen years.

A boy, Chandrasekhar, was born to the couple and soon time passed by and the boy became a teenager. The king and the queen remembered the words of Shiva and decided to send young Chandrasekhar, who was fifteen, to Kashi. It is believed that those who die at Kashi will never be born again. Young Chandrasekhar was informed about his fate and without any other option he followed his uncle to Kashi. On the way, the young boy saw several new things. In a garden, they met a lovely princess. The boy and the uncle heard the princess discussing the glory of Mangala Gowri Puja. It was the Shravan month and the girls were performing the Mangala Gowri Vratha. The princess was saying that whoever she marries will live a long life because she performs the Mangala Gowri Puja with pure heart and devotion.

The boy and the uncle moved forward and they met a prince who was sick. He explained to them that he was to marry the princess of the kingdom tomorrow but he was ashamed to go in front of people as he has fallen sick. The prince asked Chandrasekhar to help him out by appearing in the marriage function. Chandrasekhar agreed. Young Chandrasekhar appeared as the groom and the first day of the marriage function passed away smoothly. That night Chandrasekhar was to turn sixteen. He explained about his fate and about the real prince to the princess and decided to leave next morning to Kashi.

But that night the princess saw a snake approaching Chandrasekhar; she grabbed a handful of unbroken grains used to perform Mangala Gowri Puja and threw it on the snake. The snake fell dead. She took the snake and hid it in the Kalash used to perform the Mangala Gowri Puja. Chandrasekhar left the next morning and he left his wedding ring there. The other prince took the place for the day’s wedding ceremony but the princess was not ready to marry him. She said firmly that Chandrasekhar was her husband and she will only sit next to him.

Chandrasekhar reached Kashi and a year passed. He did not die. The strength and devotion with which the young princess performed the Mangala Gowri Puja saved him. While returning back to his kingdom, Chandrasekhar again reached the same spot. He longed to see the young princess even though he believed that she was happily married to the prince.

Chandrasekhar heard that the princess was in the habit of feeding all the people who passed by her kingdom. He went and sat among the people who was partaking the food offered by the princess. Soon the princess appeared. She was closely examining all the people who were eating. She has been doing this from the day Chandrasekhar left; she was sure that one day he will pass by her kingdom.

In no time, the young princess recognized Chandrasekhar. She showed him the wedding ring. The young Chandrasekhar could not control his tears. He said he did not die. The princess said she knew it and explained what happened on the night when he turned sixteen.

Soon they got married and lived happily there after.

Also Read How to Observe Mangala Gowri Puja?

The story of Bheemana Amavasya – Bhagirati Nadi Hogi

Bheemana Amavasya Vrathaa is observed in Karnataka on the Amavasya (new moon day) in Ashada month is based on an unparalleled devotion of a young girl for Lord Shiva and Parvati. Women and girls conduct special puja on the day for a happy and prosperous life and for the wellbeing of brothers and husbands. The popular story, or Katha, associated Jyothi Bhimeshwara puja is known as Bhagirati Nadi Hogi.

Legend has it that once a Brahmin couple decided to travel to Kashi to pray to Lord Shiva. But they had a daughter, a young girl, and the couple was not ready to take her with them as they did not want to risk her life. The journey was long and they were not sure whether they will make it safely.

So the Brahmin couple decided to leave the young girl with their elder son. The elder son was married and they left the daughter with him and said that if they did not return he should get her married.

The parents did not return after a year and the brother and his wife was worried that they would have to marry her off. He did not want to spend money on her and instead he had an eye on the property and money that the father had left for this daughter.

The brother one day happened to hear a strange announcement made by the King of the region - "the son of the King died yesterday and he would like to have him married before he is taken to pyre." No one was ready to take the offer but the greedy brother did. He and his wife dressed up the young girl and took her to the King and got her married to the dead prince in exchange of gold.

After the marriage ceremony, the king, the soldiers and the young bride carried the corpse to Bhagirathi River to burn it. But suddenly there was a heavy rain and all the people except the young bride left. The King asked her to come with him as she is now a princess but she did not go with him. Instead, she decided to stay with the dead prince. Looking at the dead body of the prince she thought this would not have happened had her parents were here.

The night passed and next day was Ashada Amavasya and the puja day. She remembered her parents observing the Vrata. She took bath and dug up clay from the riverbank and made two lamps. She made wick from fiber of a fallen tree and did the rituals as her parents used to do. She also made mud balls instead of the kadubus.

While she was performing the puja, a young couple appeared there and asked her what she was doing with the corpse and what was this puja for. She explained her fate and said she was now alone and there was no one to break her Bhandara or mud balls. The young man agreed to break it. He smashed the balls and blessed her – Dheerga Sumangali Bhava (Have a long and happy married life). The young girl smiled and said how can that be, my husband lies there dead.

The couple looked at the dead prince and asked her why she has not woken him up. Go and wake him up. Hesitantly she shook the prince and he opened his eyes. She could not believe her eyes. Soon she realized who the couple were but when she looked up they were gone.

She prayed to the divine couple – Shiva and Parvati – and narrated to the prince all that happened.

When the king and the courtiers returned to burn the corpse, they found the young girl and prince praying to Shiva and Parvati. The word soon spread and from that day people started strictly observing Bheema Amavasya in Ashada month with the kalikamba lamps – lamps made from mud.

Read Also: How to Perform Bheemana Amavasya Vratha?

How to Perform Bheemana Amavasya Vratha?

Bheemana Amavasya Vrata is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Parvati and is observed by women in Karnataka. It takes place on the Amavasya or non moon day in the month of Ashada. Also referred as Jyoti Bheemeshwara Vratha, the ritual is observed for the well being of the male members in the family. 

How to observe Bheemana Amavasya?

Requirements

• A pair of mud lamps representing Shiva and Parvati or picture of Shiva and Parvati or Silver lamps.
• Dough balls or Kadubus with coins hidden in them (Bhandara).
• Thembittu lamps or traditional lamps
• Turmeric roots
• Yellow thread
• Sacred thread - has 9 knots, dipped in arishina and tied to a flower (9 ಗಂಟಿನ ಗೌರಿ ದಾರ)
• Cotton
• Local flowers
• Betel leaves and Betel nuts
• bananas
• Unbroken coconut with water in it
• Fruits

All things needed for the Puja are arranged. There are no strict rules you can always substitute things.

House is cleaned and decorated, especially the Puja area.

Fried things are not prepared on the day.

Preparation for the Puja

Kadubus or dough balls with coins stuffed inside are prepared. Some people hide coins inside idili or kozhakattai. The main idea is to have the ‘bhandara’ hidden with coins.

Make or buy a pair of lamps – it represents Shiva and Parvati and it is worshipped on the day. (Instead of kamba lamps people also use idol or image of Goddess Parvati and Shiva or a pair of silver lamp or a single lamp). 

The lamps are cleaned and decorated – with sandalwood, turmeric paste or other similar items.

A yellow thread is used to tie turmeric root and it is tied to one of the lamps. This is Goddess Parvati.

The lamps are placed on rice or grains in a tray and is placed facing East.

A garland is created using cotton and is used to decorate the kamba lamps.

A sacred turmeric thread or yellow thread is placed in front of both the lamps or tied in the center.

Tie a yellow thread in nine places along with a flower. Keep the tied thread, betel leaves, and betel nuts in front of the lamp. It can also be arranged in a pot.

The normal lamps in the puja room are decorated in the normal way.

One pair of kamba lamps and the pooja accessories are used by all the women present. In some cases all participants make there own separate sets.

The Puja

The kamba lamps are worshipped on the day. An archana with turmeric and kumkum is performed. Any shlokas dedicated to Shiva and Parvati is recited.

Gowri Puja performed chanting the ‘Sri Gowri’ chant. You can also light the traditional lamps.

Nivedya is offered and it includes coconut, betel leaves, betel nuts, fruits, bananas. An arati using Karpura is performed while offering the Naivedya.

The sacred thread is tied on the right hand wrist.

Bheemana Amavasya Vratha and Kathe Audio Link

Breaking of Bhandara or Kadubus

A half-dozen or a couple of coin-stuffed kadubu is placed on a platter and male members in the family are invited. Small kids are asked to smash the kadubu. The kids keep the coin and take the blessings. Elder male members bless the females in the house.

Betel leaves, sweets, fruits are distributed among female friends and relatives.

The Next Day

The lamps are placed under the tulsi plant or dissolved in water and the water is poured under a plant in the garden.

Married women observe Bheema Amavasya for nine years after marriage. If they have the lamps, it is gifted to a newly married woman or women who are performing the Bheemana Amavasya

Read also: The story of Bheemana Amavasya

Bhagirathi Jayanti and Ganga Dashara

Bhagirathi Jayanti

Bhagirathi Jayanti is believed to be the day when River Bhagirathi appeared on earth. It is observed in the Jyeshta month. It is believed that King Bhaigratha succeeded in bringing Ganga down to earth on the day after a long penance. Bhagirathi is a source stream of Holy River Ganga. 

The word ‘Bhagirathi’ in Sanskrit literally means caused by Bhagiratha. It refers to King Bhagiratha to gain Moksha or liberation for his 60,000 great-uncles from the curse of saint Kapila, brought the Goddess Ganga in the form of the river Ganges, from the heavens to the earth. 

Bhagirathi Jayanti is observed on the Ganga Dashara day and both celebrate the origin of Ganga River on earth. It is observed on the 10th day during the Shukla Paksha or waxing phase of moon in Jyeshta month.

Story of King Bhagiratha bringing River Ganga from Heaven to Earth

As per Hindu tradition, it was King Bhagiratha’s austerities and desire to free the souls of his ancestors that brought Holy River Ganga from heaven to earth. One of the most important reasons why many people want to be cremated on the banks of Holy Ganga and want their ashes to be immersed in Ganga is that they will attain Moksha or liberation from cycle of birth and death. 

The story of King Bhagiratha is found in couple of Puranas, this is the one mentioned in the Narada Purana. Emperor Sagara had two wives – Keshini and Sumati. They were once offered two boons by Sage Aurva – first – an intelligent and pious son who will one day become a great king – second boon – sixty thousands sons.

Keshini opted for a single son and Sumati opted for sixty thousand sons.

The sixty thousands sons of Sumati created numerous troubles for the emperor. Indra and other devas, saints and human beings were fed up with the troubles created by the sons.

Indra then approached Sage Kapila to find a solution. Sage Kapila to divert the attention of the sixty thousands sons in matters of kingdom, asked the king to perform an Ashwamedha Yaga.

In an Ashwamedha Yaga, the emperor releases a horse which travels through different kingdoms. Those kings who are ready to be a vassal of the emperor do not object the horse running through their kingdom. But those kings that are not ready to be a vassal stop the horse and then the issue is settled on the battleground.

The sixty thousand sons were following the horse released by Emperor Sagara. One day Indra stole the horse and hid it at the spot where Sage Kapila was meditating. 

When the unruly sons discovered horse near Sage Kapila, they thought the saint had stolen it and started abusing and hitting him. Sage Kapila’s meditation was disturbed and the angry saint opened his eyes – reducing the sixty thousand sons into ashes. This spot is believed to the place were Ganga Sagar Mela is held annually – South of Kolkata – were Ganga merges with the Bay of Bengal.

Grandson of emperor Sagara reached the spot and prayed for forgiveness to Sage Kapila. The sage could not bring back the sons back but he said that they will attain Moksha when in future King Bhagiratha of the lineage will bring Ganga down from heaven to earth.

After several generations, Bhagiratha was born in the family and he performed great austerities and impressed Brahma and Shiva. 

Ganga descended from heaven and Lord Shiva held Her in his matted locks so that the power of Goddess does not destroy the earth. She then traveled to earth purifying all that she touched. 

Ganga Dashara Festival – Ganga Dasara

Ganga Aarti offered during Ganga Dashara at the Dashashwamedh Ghat,Varanasi

Ganga Dasara, also known as Maa Ganga Dashara, is a 10-day festival dedicated to Goddess Ganga (River Ganga or Ganges). In 2013, Ganga Dashara festival date is from June 9 to June 18. The festival is celebrated during the first ten days of the Jyeshta Month (May – June) – the first 10 days during the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon). 

It is believed that Goddess Ganga touched the earth on the 10th day of the Shukla Paksha of Jyeshta (June 18, 2013). Legend has it that King Bhagirath performed intense austerities to bring down Ganga on to earth so that his ancestors are relieved of their sins. Finally, Ganga descended from heaven and Lord Shiva held Her in his matted locks so that the power of Goddess does not destroy the earth. She then traveled to earth purifying all that she touched.

The day of the celebration, Ganga Dashahara brings throngs of bathers to the banks of the river. A soak in the Ganges on this day is said to rid the bather of ten sins (dasha = Sanskrit "ten"; hara = to destroy) or alternatively, ten lifetimes of sins. Those who cannot journey to the river, however, can achieve the same results by bathing in any nearby body of water, which, for the true believer, in the Hindu tradition, takes on all the attributes of the Ganges

Numerous ceremonies are held on the occasion including pujas, prayers and other rituals. In recent years, with human greed destroying and polluting Ganga, there are special meetings and padyatras held on the occasion to highlight the importance of Ganga and the need to protect it.

It must be noted that the day Ganga descended on earth is observed differently in different regions. In some regions it is observed as Ganga Saptami and in some regions on the Akshaya Tritiya day.