Devotees gathered in northern cities like Prayagraj, Haridwar, and Kanpur to celebrate Ganga Dussehra, a sacred festival on the banks of the River Ganga. In Prayagraj, known as the Sangam city, devotees started arriving at the Triveni Sangam from the auspicious pre-dawn period to take ritualistic dips in the holy river and offer prayers for peace and prosperity. The confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati saw a massive turnout with devotees performing religious rituals and believing in the cleansing power of the Ganga on this day.
In Haridwar, thousands of worshippers gathered at Har Ki Pauri and nearby ghats to participate in the sacred bathing festival, chanting “Har Har Gange” as they immersed themselves in the holy waters. The local administration in Haridwar made extensive security and crowd-management arrangements, dividing the area into zones and sectors and deploying various teams for the safety and convenience of devotees. Similarly, in Kanpur, devotees, especially women, gathered at the Ganga ghats early in the morning to perform rituals and take holy dips, while security personnel ensured order and crowd management throughout the day.
Ganga Dussehra is celebrated to honor the descent of the holy River Ganga from the heavens to Earth, as per Hindu mythology. It symbolizes the day when Goddess Ganga emerged on Earth to cleanse the cursed ancestors of King Bhagiratha, granting them salvation and moksha.
