On the auspicious occasion of Ganga Dussehra, Haridwar witnessed a massive influx of devotees who arrived to take a holy dip in the Ganga river. The spiritual fervor of the day led to heavy traffic congestion on the Haridwar-Dehradun highway as thousands participated in the ritual bathing, causing significant vehicular delays.
Celebrated on the Dashami Tithi of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Jyeshtha, Ganga Dussehra marks the descent of the sacred river Ganga to earth. This year, the festival held special astrological significance, with rare alignments of Hasta Nakshatra, Siddhi Yoga, and Vyatipaat Yoga — combinations said to amplify the spiritual merits of bathing, donations, and meditation.
According to mythology, King Bhagirath brought Ganga to earth to liberate the souls of his ancestors. Since then, the river has been revered as a divine purifier, offering salvation to all living beings. Astrologers believe that this year’s Ganga Dussehra, observed under the same yogas believed to have marked Ganga’s original descent, held enhanced spiritual significance.
As per astrologer Uday Shankar Bhatt, worshipping Ganga on such an occasion yields extraordinary benefits. The river, often called the lifeline of Indian culture, symbolizes both purity and liberation.
The Haridwar administration made arrangements for crowd management and safety, but the sheer volume of pilgrims led to inevitable traffic snarls. Despite the disruptions, the spirit of devotion among the devotees remained undeterred.
