Janakpurdham marks Ganga Dashahara

By Laxmi Chaudhary,Janakpurdham, May 27: A significant crowd of devotees has gathered at the historic Dasharath Lake in Janakpurdham Sub-metropolitan City since Tuesday morning on the occasion of Ganga Dashahara.

Pilgrims from Nepal and bordering Indian regions have gathered in the lake area for a holy bath and worship. Hindus celebrate Ganga Dussehra as a special religious festival, connecting it with the descent of Mother Ganga to Earth.

On this occasion, due to the religious belief that bathing in the Dasharath Lake will bring merit, this year too, like every year, there has been a huge crowd of devotees.  Locals said that it is a tradition for devotees to bathe in the lake and then worship at the nearby Dasharath Maharaj temple. A long queue was seen since morning for bathing and worship. 

Gandhi Devi Sah, who came from Aurahi Municipality in Mahottari to take a bath, said that she visits Dasharath Lake every year on the day of Ganga Dussehra. “It is believed that bathing here will bring merit and destroy sins,” she said, “Many devotees from my village have also come here.”

It is believed that bathing in the Ganges water destroys ten types of sins, grants salvation and fulfils wishes.  

According to legend, King Bhagiratha performed severe penance to save his 60,000 sons and brought the Ganga to earth. The tradition of celebrating Ganga Dussehra every year has been in memory of this event. 

Similarly, the Mahaganga Aarti, which is held every evening at Gangasagar in Janakpurdham, also started on the day of Ganga Dussehra.