Lakhs of devotees descended on the banks of the River Ganga on Monday, 26 May 2025, to mark Ganga Dussehra, with the largest gatherings recorded at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar, and the Ganga ghats in Kanpur. The sacred festival, which celebrates the mythological descent of the Ganga from the heavens to Earth, drew massive crowds across northern India as devotees sought ritual purification and salvation.

Prayagraj: Sangam City Overflows with Devotion

In Prayagraj, devotees began arriving at the Triveni Sangam — the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati — as early as the Brahma Muhurat, the auspicious pre-dawn hour. Chants of 'Jai Ganga Maiya' reverberated across the ghats as worshippers took ritualistic dips, performed charity, and made offerings. According to religious belief, bathing in the Ganga on Ganga Dussehra washes away ten kinds of sins and grants moksha (salvation). One devotee said, 'Today, I have come here with my family to take a holy bath and perform puja for the happiness, well-being, and peace of my loved ones.'

Haridwar: Har Ki Pauri Resonates with 'Har Har Gange'

In Haridwar, thousands of pilgrims gathered at Har Ki Pauri and nearby ghats from early morning. The sacred steps echoed with chants of 'Har Har Gange' as devotees immersed themselves in the holy waters and participated in donation and charity rituals with deep religious fervour. The turnout at Haridwar was among the highest seen at the festival in recent years, according to local reports.

Security and Crowd Management Arrangements

SP City Abhay Singh said the entire festival area had been divided into 11 zones and 27 sectors for crowd management. 'The entire area has been divided into 11 zones and 27 sectors. Dog squads, river police, mounted police, and fire teams have been deployed at several locations to ensure safety and convenience for devotees,' he said. The administration's multi-layered deployment ensured the celebrations proceeded without any major incident.

Kanpur and Other Cities Join the Celebrations

In Kanpur, large numbers of devotees — particularly women — gathered at the Ganga ghats from early morning to perform rituals and take holy dips. Security personnel remained deployed throughout the day to manage the crowds. Similar scenes of devotion were reported across multiple northern cities, reflecting the festival's deep cultural and spiritual resonance.

The Significance of Ganga Dussehra

Ganga Dussehra commemorates the day, according to Hindu mythology, when Goddess Ganga descended to Earth to liberate the cursed ancestors of King Bhagiratha, cleansing their souls and granting them salvation. The festival falls on the tenth day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month of Jyeshtha and is one of the most significant observances tied to the Ganga's sanctity. This year's celebrations underscored the enduring spiritual importance of the river for millions of devotees across northern India.