The holy occasion of Ganga Dussehra 2026 was celebrated at the banks of Maa Narmada in Narmadapuram on Tuesday, with a spirited environment being witnessed in the city. There was a great rush of devotees at the major ghats, taking a holy dip in the sacred river, since early in the morning, at Sethani Ghat, Kori Ghat, Gondri Ghat, and Vivekananda Ghat.
Devotees had started to reach the ghats, even before sunrise, to witness the religious activities of the festival. On the occasion of Ganga Dussehra, people bathed in the holy water of Maa Narmada, followed by the ritual of their prayers, and they also donated to people with food, clothes, and other necessities to observe their traditional customs.
Based on the religious philosophy, the day of Ganga Dussehra is the day when King Bhagirath took Maa Ganga to earth with a lot of Dharma practice. Taking a dip in the Narmada just as people bathe in the Ganges is as ritualistic as bathing in the Ganges, as it is believed that on this auspicious day, Mother Ganga visits her sister, Maa Narmada, for bathing.
One of the highlights of the events will be the setting up of Maha Aarti of Maa Narmada at 7.30 pm at Sethani Ghat this evening. The aarti will be conducted with 251 lamps in a big circle, reminiscent of that of the famous aarti at Varanasi at Ghungross and Gangeyaan and Aartibandhu on the riverbank.
Convener of Maha Aarti, Prashant Munnu Dubey, stated that the spiritual function starts at Ganga Dussehra, and this year, the Maha Aarti is 16 years old. Special preparations have been made for this celebration.
As visitors swarm the ghats, security has been tightened up at all major ghats, keeping in mind the high footfall. Police officers and guards at home and diving teams have been mobilized to guarantee safety and efficient command throughout the event.