Buddha Purnima, also known as Vesak or Buddha Jayanti, is a significant Buddhist festival celebrated to commemorate the birth, enlightenment, and death (parinirvana) of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. This auspicious day falls on the full moon day (Purnima) in the Hindu lunar month of Vaisakha, typically occurring in April or May. From an astrological perspective, Buddha Purnima carries profound significance, as it aligns with celestial configurations that influence human consciousness and spiritual evolution.
Ganga Dussehra is an auspicious Hindu festival celebrated in honour of the sacred river Ganges (Ganga). Observed on the tenth day (Dussehra) of the bright half of the Hindu lunar month Jyeshtha, typically falling in June, Ganga Dussehra holds immense significance for millions of devotees across India. This festival commemorates the descent of the Ganges from heaven to earth, marking the divine manifestation of the river and its role in purifying and nourishing both the physical and spiritual realms. Among the numerous festivals celebrated in this country, Ganga Dussehra has great significance.
Date and time of Ganga Dussehra festival
Ganga Dussehra falls on the 10th day (Dashami Tithi) of the waxing moon (Shukla Paksha) in the month of Jyeshtha, according to the Hindu calendar. So, it usually falls in May or June. Ganga Dussehra in 2024 will fall on Sunday, June 16, 2024. Ganga Dussehra is also called Gangavataran, which means ‘descent of Ganga’. In most years, Ganga Dussehra is celebrated a day before Nirjala Ekadashi. But sometimes Ganga Dussehra and Nirjala Ekadashi fall on the same day.
Important dates and timings of Ganga Avtaran Puja
Ganga Dussehra 2024 Date: Sunday, June 16, 2024
Dashami tithi starts – 16 June 2024 at 02:32 am
Dashami tithi ends – 17 June 2024 at 04:43 am
Hasta Nakshatra Start – June 15, 2024 at 08:14 AM
Hasta Nakshatra ends – June 16, 2024 at 11:13 AM
Vyatipata Yoga Start – June 14, 2024 at 07:08 PM
Vyatipata Yoga ends – June 15, 2024 at 08:11 PM
Astrological Significance of Buddha Purnima:
The sun was in the ferocious sign of Mars, the moon was in Libra, and the ascendant of Cancer made up Gautama Buddha’s birth horoscope. The important thing to note about his Kundli is that the five planets that aspect the moon—Sun, Saturn, Jupiter, Venus, and Mars—were truly responsible for his great mental faculties.
Gautama Buddha’s birth horoscope consisted of the sun in the fierce sign of Mars, the moon in Libra, and the ascendant of Cancer. The key finding of his Kundli is that He was genuinely endowed with exceptional mental abilities by the five planets that aspect the moon: Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and the Sun.
Origin and Significance:
The origin of Ganga Dussehra is rooted in Hindu mythology, particularly the legend of King Bhagiratha’s penance to bring the sacred river Ganges down to earth. In the legend, the sage Kapila cursed his forefathers and turned them into ashes. King Bhagiratha, a member of the Suryavanshi dynasty, set out to free their spirits. Through rigorous penance and devotion to Lord Brahma, Bhagiratha managed to persuade the goddess Ganga to descend from heaven to earth and purify the ashes, thereby liberating his ancestors’ souls.
Ganga Dussehra marks the day when the Ganges descended to earth, symbolising the divine intervention and grace bestowed upon humanity. It is believed that bathing in the holy waters of the Ganges on this auspicious day can cleanse sins, bestow blessings, and facilitate spiritual upliftment. Devotees flock to the banks of the Ganges to offer prayers, perform rituals, and partake in the sacred act of bathing (snaan) to purify themselves and seek blessings for health, prosperity, and liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
Places where Ganga Avratan is celebrated
The festival of Ganga Dussehra is celebrated by Hindus mostly in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar and West Bengal, where the river Ganges flows. Haridwar, Varanasi, Garhmukteshwar, Rishikesh, Allahabad, Prayagraj, and Patna are the major places of celebration. Here, devotees gather on the banks of the Ganga and perform aarti (a religious ritual in which the hands of a clock are rotated in front of a deity as a part of prayer) in the river.
Invoke the blessings of Goddess Ganga and get rid of all sins by following special personal rituals based on your birth chart.
The significance of Ganga Avartan Mahotsav
Dussehra symbolises the ten auspicious Vedic counts that reflect the power of the Ganga to wash away ten sins related to thoughts, actions, and speech. The ten Vedic calculations include Jyeshtha month, Shukla Paksha, tenth day, Thursday, Hasta Nakshatra, Siddha Yoga, Gar-Ananda Yoga, the Moon in Virgo and the Sun in Taurus. By worshipping, a person attains salvation. The day is favourable for purchasing valuables, new vehicles, or new property. On this day, standing in the Ganga and reciting Ganga Stotra removes all sins.
It is believed that taking a dip in the river on this day can bring the devotee to a state of purification and can also cure any physical ailments he may have. In Sanskrit, dasha means ten, and hara means destroyed. Thus, bathing in the river during these ten days is believed to absolve one of ten sins or the sins of ten births.
Rituals and Observances:
Ganga Dussehra is observed with great fervour and devotion in various parts of India, especially in regions along the banks of the Ganges. The festival is marked by a series of rituals and observances that pay homage to the sacred river and its divine significance:
Spiritual Significance:
Ganga Dussehra holds immense spiritual significance for Hindus, symbolising the divine descent of the Ganges from the celestial realms to Earth. The festival reinforces the belief in the sacredness of rivers and the transformative power of water to purify the soul and bestow blessings upon devotees. By immersing themselves in the holy waters of the Ganges and participating in rituals and prayers, devotees seek spiritual renewal, divine grace, and liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
Yamuna worship
On Ganga Dussehra, the river Yamuna is also worshipped, and kite-flying programmes are organised. Devotees take a holy dip in the Yamuna at places like Mathura, Vrindavan, and Bateshwar and make offerings of watermelon and cucumber. They distribute drinks like lassi, sherbet, and shikanji.
Ganga Dussehra holds immense significance in Hindu mythology and culture, serving as a poignant reminder of the divine grace and benevolence embodied by the sacred river Ganges. As devotees gather to celebrate this auspicious festival, they reaffirm their reverence for the goddess Ganga and her role in purifying, nourishing, and sanctifying the earth. Through rituals, prayers, and acts of devotion, they seek blessings for spiritual upliftment, prosperity, and liberation, while fostering a deeper connection with the sacred waters that flow eternally, carrying the blessings of the divine to all who seek solace and salvation.
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